District Congress up in arms against Minister

Kakinada, Oct 26 (UNI) The East Godavari District Congress Committee today condemned the stand of the Minister for Small scale industries Gollapalli Suryarao for his derogatory remarks against the Minister for Panchayat Raj J C Diwakarar reddy, who is also the District Incharge Minister.

Addressing a press conference here along with minister for social welfare Pilli Subhas Chandra Bose at the Congress office, the District Congress Committee President C H S Venugopalakrishna said it was unfortunate that the Minister Suryarao chose to blame Mr Diwakara Reddy attrubuting motives and casting aspersions in regard to sand auctions.

However, he did not respond to the queries of newspersons as to what made him to keep quiet when the Minister made a scathing attack right in the Zilla Parishad general body meeting yesterday, alleging kickbacks were involved in sand auctions.

The Zilla Parishad Chairman, however, said District incharge Minister did not have any role in reduction of the sand auction revenues. Even regarding the alleged scam in supply of tables to the zilla parishad high schools, he said every thing was done strictly according to rules and no foul play was involved. Since the cost of the iron used in the tables had gone up, he said, the contractors sought revision of the bid amount. Hence fresh tenders were called for the them which were yet to be finalised, he added.

The Minister for Social Welfare Pilli Subhas Chandra Bose described the allegation made by Minister Suryarao against Mr Diwakara Reddy as atrocious, highly immoral and unethical and advised him to raise his grievances against Mr Reddy, if any, either in Congress legislature party meeting or cabinet meeting or before the Chief Minister for redressal.

MLC Nallamilli Seshareddy, MLAs Dommeti Venkateswerlu, Kudupudi Chittebbai, Pinipe Viwaroop who were also present said they were unanimous in condemning the stand of Minister Suryarao.

DCC President C H S Venugopalakrishna said he would be sending a detailed report to the Pradesh Congress and to the Chief Minister, on the unhappy episode that involved two Ministers.

UNI XR/BR AKM 1619