AP CM asks ministers to disclose assets by August end

Hyderabad, June 23: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked his Cabinet colleagues to disclose their assets by the end of August, in line with the directive of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The General Administration Department issued a circular to all ministers based on the chief minister's directive, the sources in government said.

"The chief minister is probably trying to follow the footsteps of the prime minister to ensure probity among the council of ministers. Hence the directive," a senior minister said.

It would be like a mid-term stock-taking exercise as nearly half of the current term was over, the minister observed. However, most of the ministers are yet to receive the circular.

School Education Minister Sake Sailajanath confirmed that he received the circular and said he would accordingly disclose his assets by July 15.

"I haven't got any letter yet but I will publicise my assets and liabilities. In fact, these details are already in public domain in the form of an affidavit filed along with the nomination on election eve," another minister said.

Legislators are also required, though technically not mandatory, to furnish details of their assets to the Speaker as part of the House ethics. "Most of the MLAs have submitted the details already and we wanted to remind those who haven't furnished details yet," Speaker Nadendla Manohar told PTI.

Now that the ministers have been asked to disclose their assets, the legislators too will be required to follow the suit, the sources said.

PTI