DL, Shankar Rao told to tone down rhetoric against YSR

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy cautioned Health Minister DL Ravindra Reddy and Handlooms and Textiles Minister P Shankar Rao to tone down their rhetoric against former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy at the Cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat on Monday.

According to highly placed sources, the Chief Minister’s cautionary words came after the two Ministers had to face hostile reaction from Tourism Minister Vatti Vasant Kumar and Minister for Infrastructure and Investment Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. Mr Vasant Kumar and Mr Venkat Reddy voiced their resentment at the two Ministers for letting loose a barrage of criticism against YSR’s rule.

Dr DL Ravindra Reddy came in for particular ‘treatment’, our sources say. He was taken to task for his reported remarks that corruption was rampant under YSR’s rule.

The Minister defended himself by saying that he was referring to the period, not the ruler, in his statement, but this was disregarded by the two Ministers. He is also believed to have claimed that his remarks were not against YSR himself by against the drawbacks in 104 and 108 services, besides the Arogyasri scheme.

Dr Shankar Rao too faced some uncomfortable questions for his unwarranted opinion against the former chief minister.

Wary that Kadapa leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy was being benefitted by the incessant targeting of his father and was using the ‘sympathy’ wave to his advantage, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy stepped in and asked both Dr Ravindra Reddy and Dr Shankar Rao to tone down their rhetoric.

The sources say that even as the Chief Minister was about to thank his colleagues on the ‘successful’ Racha Banda, Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana and Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy entered into heated arguments over the fee reimbursement arrears issue.

The Chief Minister had to intervene and bring order to the Cabinet meeting.