Minister for Mines Galla Aruna Kumari on Thursday denied reports that there was a rift between her and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy over the issue of gold mining in Mallayyavada of Chittoor district.
Talking to reporters here, she said that the file on gold mining had come up even during the tenure of late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The people in the area were opposed to gold mining as shrine for Lord Siva existed there and the local MLA from Tambalapalli promptly took it to the notice of the present Chief Minister.
The sentiments of the people were taken into account and there was no question of any differences between her and the CM over the issue, Ms. Aruna Kumari clarified, particularly because their families were in politics for nearly six decades and both she and Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy entered politics simultaneously.
Asked about her son Jayadev entering politics, she said both she and her son would like to contest in the 2014 Assembly elections.
