The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Mareppa lashes out at Mohanty

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Mareppa lashes out at Mohanty

Special Correspondent

Says the official belongs to Orissa cadre and does not understand local problems

Mohanty levelled baseless charges as he fears that he would be exposed, says Minister
Joint Action Committee of SCs, STs, BCs and Minorities demands an apology from Mr. Mohanty

HYDERABAD: Marketing Minister M. Mareppa lashed out at S. N. Mohanty, general secretary of the AP IAS Officers’ Association, for making “inappropriate remarks” against him.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, the Minister said Mr. Mohanty had levelled charges against him without understanding what he had stated. The IAS officer faced various charges in whichever capacity he worked and had levelled allegations against him out of fear that he may be exposed now.

Mr. Mareppa said, Mr Mohanty belonged to Orissa cadre of IAS and did not understand the local problems encountered by the people in Andhra Pradesh, especially Scheduled Castes, Tribes and other weaker sections.

This was in sharp contrast to other set of IAS officers like S. R. Sankaran and A. V. S. Reddy who rendered yeoman service to the people, especially the disadvantaged and the underprivileged.

Denies remark

Reiterating that he never said IAS officers were corrupt, Mr. Mareppa maintained that all he said was that 50 per cent of them were not working, thereby subjecting people to endless suffering.

His intention was that IAS/IPS officers should work for people by implementing the agenda of the elected Government. Noting that disadvantaged sections were lacking proper food, clothing and shelter even after 60 years of Independence, Mr. Mareppa said “let the officers work to fulfil these needs”.

Dalits back Mohanty

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee of SC, ST, BC and Minority communities has demanded an apology from Mr. Mohanty within two days his remarks against Mr. Marreppa.

If he does not tender an apology, the organisation would organise State-wide dharnas, its convenor J. Suryanarayana and co-convenor K. Devisetty Rao stated at a news conference here on Saturday. Referring to the apology sought by the Association, the JAC said this demand was voiced solely because the Minister was a Dalit. Otherwise, the association was silent when retired IAS officers R.C. Samal and Jayaprakash Narayan had commented that a majority of IAS officers did not work. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes United Front has extended its support to Mr. Mareppa for his outburst against IAS officers and said the officers of Central service needed to change their attitude.

In a statement, A. Ramakoti, president, accused IAS officers of continuing to follow ‘British policies’, ‘adopting anti-people’s stand’ and ‘neglecting their duties’. He also charged them with ‘not implementing the Government’s policies with commitment’. He demanded an enquiry against IAS officers who built houses worth crores in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills.

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