CM upset with Oppn targetting him

Hyderabad, Feb 14 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said he was upset with the Opposition levelling personal allegations against him, his brother and ruling party members in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment of teachers in his native Kadapa district.

Intervening during the Question Hour, he termed as 'baseless' the charge levelled by TDP Legislature party Deputy leader T Devender Goud that he or any of his family members had taken money in connection with appointment of teachers.

''I have been an Income Tax assessee since my high school days. I have stood guarantee, depositing Rs five lakh each for those seeking employment in a private bank,'' the Chief Minister emotionally said.

It was unfortunate that the Opposition was making such wild allegation based on ''imaginative story'' written in a particular Telugu daily, whose head filed a sworn affidavit that the Congress Party was his enemy, he said.

Coming to the defence of his brother Y S Vivekananda Reddy, he said people hold him in reverence and affectionately called him ''Swami Vivekananda.'' Soon after irregularities came to light, he had ordered an inquiry. The police were quick to act against the culprits and seized cash from the concerned Education Officer.

CM also justified his remarks made at the height of emotions against the Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu, which he had withdrawn after the Opposition took objection to it.

Later, the TDP leader Mr Goud clarified he had only referred to press reports and cited the Congress raising allegations based on press reports when it was in the Opposition.

''When you people were in the Opposition, these papers were very useful and now they have become useless,'' he retorted.

''We are not here to shower encomiums on the government. We will definitely criticise the government and bring serious allegations against the government to the notice of the House,'' the TDP leader asserted.

UNI