Tribal Welfare Minister P. Balaraju, whose absence at Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s recent tour in the district, was conspicuous, said here on Wednesday that there was no dispute between the two, but the procedures the government and the party should follow were absent.
Except an official of the Chief Minister’s Office informing him on November 13 that the Chief Minister would be visiting the district on November 15, details were not given, Mr. Balaraju said at a press conference. “I have told him (Mr. Kiran Reddy) that there was no dispute with him,” he asserted but did not come out with clarity when asked if he felt being neglected by the Chief Minister. The people and the Congress that would decide whether he was being neglected or not, Mr. Balaraju said.
Without naming the other Minister from the district Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Mr. Balaraju strongly criticised him for his reported statement on Tuesday that the CMO did inform him about the Chief Minister’s visit.
He was forced to react because of the comment. He (Mr. Srinivasa Rao) should not interfere in other’s issues, Mr. Balaraju said.
He would invite the Chief Minister to the Araku Festival (scheduled during month-end) if it happens and would attend the one-day international cricket match between India and West Indies here on November 24, Mr. Balaraju added.
Polavaram project
On the demands for keeping Bhadrachalam in Seemandhra or Telangana, the Minister said whether the State remained unified or divided, he would always wish the Girijans’ interests. Regarding the Polavaram project he wanted full justice was done to the people of Girijan villages facing submergence and full scale rehabilitation for them.
