AP CM tries to win over 'friendly' Communists

Hyderabad, Aug 13 (UNI) Brushing aside the Left parties' demand for constituting a Land Commission, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today offered to constitute a Commission within the legal framework to find a practical solution to the land issue.

''Basically, the intentions of the government and the Communists are one and the same -- to provide land to the poor,'' he told a press conference here.

Urging the Communists to provide details with regard to the formation of Land Commission, he said his government would not have any objection to constituting the body to function under the government. If the Communists came out with the terms of reference for the Commission, he would get the proposal examined by legal experts and find a practical way out for the problem, he added.

To a question, Dr Reddy said he had no idea about the reported statement of AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh that the Centre was examining a proposal to form a Land Commission at the national level.

On CPI(M) State Secretary B V Raghavulu's statement that the party had given its views clearly on the issue in writing and that it was Mr Singh who did not have clarity on the Land Commission proposed by the Left parties, the Chief Minister said he did not want to join issue with Mr Raghavulu.

To another question, the Chief Minister said he was yet to receive response from the Union Commerce Minister to his letter, seeking opportunity to the State to present its point of view on the formula for fixing price for gas from the Krishna-Godavari Basin.

UNI