Telangana IT Minister K Taraka Rama Rao said it was unbecoming of a leader of Chandrababu Naidu's stature to create hatred among the people with his utterances.
Telangana IT Minister K Taraka Rama Rao charged AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with degrading the image of the people of his own state by trying to impose on them his "dirty tricks" for his selfish political ends.
Interacting with the media after his meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Saturday, KTR said that it was unbecoming of a leader of Naidu's stature to create hatred and bad blood among the people with his utterances.
As far as the note-for-vote issue was concerned, the law would take its own course, he stated.
Referring to the controversy raging between the two Telugu States regarding Section 8 of the A P Reorganization Act, the minister recalled the statement made by Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha to the effect that Section 8 was an infringement on the powers of the states, and that it was irrelevant without the necessary constitutional amendments.
Asserting that there was no scope for invoking Section 8 in Hyderabad as there was no threat to the law and order situation and harmonious conditions were prevailing, KTR lambasted Chandrababu Naidu of vitiating the peaceful atmosphere with his desperate acts.
The law was equal for all including the AP CM, he said.
Asked about speculation over the replacement of Governor E S L Narasimhan, the minister said that it was the Centre's prerogative.
The minister arrived in New Delhi this morning to attend the meeting of the state finance ministers. Since Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajender is recuperating from injuries sustained after an accident, KTR represented him at the meeting.
He brought to the notice of the Union Finance Minister the taking away of an amount of Rs. 1,274 crores from Telangana's funds, and urged that it be reimbursed forthwith (the amount pertains to the AP Beverages Corporation Ltd).
If at all the Centre intended to recover the amount, it should be done from both states using the 58:42 ratio, he informed Jaitley.
KTR said that the Union Finance Minister had appreciated the Telangana government's new industrial policy, and sought more information in this regard. (NSS)