CPI urges Govt to appoint 'Leader of the House'

Hyderabad, Feb 15 (UNI) Communist Party of India (CPI) Floor leader P Nageswara Rao today urged the Andhra Pradesh Government to appoint 'Leader of the House' in the Legislative Council, as the post was vacant since the Council came into existence in 2007.

Participating in a debate on motion of thanks on Governor's address in the Council, Mr Rao noted there was a leader of the House in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in Parliament.

But the post of the 'Leader of the House' in the state Council was vacant even after the Leader of the Opposition was appointed by the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), he added.

Pointing out that it was very difficult to find out a solution when a critical situation arises in the Council, he said the ruling Congress government should fill the post immediately.

Taking exception to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's yesterday's statements in the Assembly that naxal activities would increase in Telangana if it was separated, the CPI leader said the Chief Minister had no right to make such statements.

Naxalism was born in the united Andhra Pradesh and the naxals were still active in other big states in the country, he noted.

Alleging that huge corruption was taking place in the construction of irrigation projects under 'Jalayagnam' programme, Mr Rao said irregularites in INDIRAMMA scheme were also not being controlled by the government.

He alleged that the government hospitals were destabilised after the corporate hospitals were allowed to treat the people under 'Arogya Sri' scheme.

Urging the state to stop acquirement of farmers' lands for the establishment of Sepcial Economic Zones (SEZs) in future, he said the government should only sell futile lands to the industries.

UNI AP VA DS VD RK1618