Jaipal Reddy, KK Accused Of Conspiring Against CM

Government whip T Jayaprakash Reddy alleged that union Petroleum minister S Jaipal Reddy and former Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao were hatching a conspiracy to remove Kiran Kumar Reddy from the chief minister's post.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party's office, Jayaprakash Reddy said that at a time when the Kiran Kumar Reddy was striving to strengthen the Congress, the two senior leaders - Jaipal Reddy and Keshava Rao - were trying to damage the party and destabilise the Congress government in AP. He advised Jaipal Reddy to concentrate on sanctioning funds from the Centre to the state instead of indulging in "other issues".

Accusing Jaipal Reddy of having failed to get Central funds for Andhra Pradesh, he said that Jaipal Reddy does not deserve to be part of the union cabinet. He demanded that the latter release a white paper on the funds sanctioned by the Centre for Andhra Pradesh during Jaipal Reddy's term as the union minister for Urban Development.

Condemning the remarks of Keshava Rao, who had stated that Kiran Kumar Reddy should be removed to ensure the formation of a separate Telangana state, the government whip advised Rao to strengthen the party instead of focusing on the Telangana issue, which, he said, is now being handled by the Centre.

He demanded that Keshava Rao also tender an apology for his remarks against the chief minister, and that in case he does not, he would approach the Congress high command, seeking disciplinary action against him. (INN)