Amongst murmurs of disgust by the scribes attending the press conference, Minister for Medical and Health D L Ravindra Reddy launched a tirade against the Sakshi newspaper at the CLP on Wednesday.
Dr Ravindra Reddy described the newspaper as a toilet paper and fit to be used and flushed. However, the language he used in his description is unprintable and left the attending scribes at the CLP in deep disgust.
The scribes were in for a surprise, considering the fact that not only is DL Ravindra Reddy an educated persons, with an MBBS degree, he has also taken an Oath of Office and Secrecy.
The Minister first condemned media reports which quoted him saying that the state would see Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy being replaced soon after the by-elections.
He denied that he had made no such statement and he was misquoted.
The Minister was responding to reports which quoted him as saying that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy would be removed soon and he would take over as Chief Minister. This incident had supposedly taken place when MRPS activists confronted him during his campaign in Mydukur Assembly constituency, represented by him.
Continuing with his explanation about the events which occurred that day, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that the classification of SC/STs issue was pending with the Centre. “I only said the Congress High Command will take a decision on the classification of SC/ST after discussing with the Prime Minister,” he said.
“I have never aspired to become the Chief Minister of the state,” Dr Ravindra Reddy said and added, “I never aspired to become a Cabinet Minister.”
The only reason that I joined the Cabinet was to fight against the large-scale corruption of YS Jaganmohan Reddy,” he went on.
“As the Congress party is in disarray in the district, I agreed to contest against Mr Jaganmohan Reddy in the by-elections,” he explained.
Stating that party has not asked him to resign from his post, Dr Ravindra Reddy said, “I will follow the High Command’s diktat if I lose in the by-elections. But that is almost impossible since I will win the by-polls and Mr Jaganmohan Reddy will come in second place.”
Reacting on report which appeared in a section of media that exchange of money was behind the permission given for setting up of additional medical colleges flouting norms, the Minister stated that he would file a defamation suit for Rs 10 crore against Sakshi newspaper for publishing such baseless reports against him and damaging his reputation.
Reacting on Devi Reddy and Mangal Krishna, independents candidates who are believed to have filed nominations in the by-elections, but are campaigning in favour of Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that he would lodge a complaint with Chief Election Commissioner seeking action.
Stating that he was the political heir of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that he would compile a book `Making of a Chief Minister’ and share his interaction and experiences with YSR.
Alleging that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy was influencing voters in the constituency with money and liquor, he said there was no need for Congress to distribute money. He expressed confidence the people of the constituency would vote in favour of Congress as it stands by its principles and ideology.
Dr Ravindra Reddy said that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy would not have been satisfied even if the High Command had given the Chief Minister’s post to YS Vijayalakshmi.
The Minister added that there was no need to defeat Mr Jaganmohan Reddy since his corruption would defeat him.
Granted that the Oath does not put a curb on a person’s language, but it does expect a sense of decorum to be observed.