Ministers flay Gupta's comments

Four Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday took strong exception to the remarks made by CPI national leader Gurudas Dasgupta in which the Communist leader had stated that the state was effectively run by New Delhi since Chief Minister K Rosaiah was dependent on the Congress High Command for making decision.

Talking to media persons, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Tourism and I & PR Minister Geetha Reddy and Higher Education Minister D Sridhar Babu together, and Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy in a separate press conference, criticised the comments by the veteran Communist leader.

Mr Gurudas Dasgupta had on Tuesday stated that Mr Rosaiah was always seen in New Delhi and this was proof that the Congress High Command was dictating terms to those at the helm of affairs here.

The Cabinet Ministers reacting sharply to Mr Gupta's words, said that they would continue to take advice and guidance from New Delhi whenever a need arose and that there was nothing wrong in this.

They also stated that Central schemes were also being implemented here with funds coming from the Centre and that the State government was at an advantageous position to coordinate with the New Delhi.

Ms Geetha Reddy also brushed aside the remarks made by Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu in which he had accused her of sidetracking her portfolio and always indulged in replies to Opposition's comments. She said that she needed no advice from Mr Naidu. The other Ministers stated that the Opposition is criticising for criticism sake.

At a separate press briefing, Agriculture Minister N Raguveera Reddy also reacted to Gupta's comments and said that it is quite common that the State government would take advices from New Delhi for effective implementation of various development schemes.

"We are proud to follow New Delhi's suggestion and Delhi's decision is 100 percent final", he said.

“It is not a fiction. It is true and necessary. Do they not follow their politburo direction and diktat," Mr Raghuveera Reddy asked.

“The CPI State leaders also depend on their politburo for help in taking decisions, the Agriculture Minister said and wondered whether the Communists were depending on Mr Naidu for issues and publicity. 

Stating sarcastically that the Communists were always toeing the line of China and Russia, they have no locus standi to talk against Congress government, Mr Raghuveera Reddy said.