The Telugu Desam (TDP) has threatened to obstruct Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Indiramma Baata programme in Krishna district on Tuesday demanding an acceptance of Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao’s resignation and release of water to Krishna delta.
Crops withering
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, party leaders Devineni Umamaheswar Rao, Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar said that standing paddy crop in Krishna, Prakasam, Guntur and West Godavari districts was not being given water even as Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs had sufficient water. Chilli and cotton crops were already withering due to lack of water, they noted.
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The government had already announced crop holiday for rabi season in Krishna Delta in the name of modernisation of Nagarjunasagar canal systems. By denying water to kharif crops the government was trying to starve the farming community while at the same time it was giving water to Pulivendula constituency and Bharati Cements through Pothireddypadu Head Regulator, they alleged.
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Meanwhile, another party leader P. Keshav sought to know how could the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Dharmana Prasada Rao, stand in the witness box in a court by holding his ministerial post.
He demanded that the Chief Minister accept his resignation before he appeared in court on Tuesday in the Vanpic land allotment case.
‘Not mere allegations’
He reminded Mr. Rao that the CBI had not made mere allegations against him as claimed by him on Sunday, but it had levelled specific charges with prima facie evidence on allowing land acquisition by Vanpic projects when the government had an agreement with Vanpic Ports. In the process, he had misled the entire Cabinet to benefit private persons, the TDP leader alleged.
Continuation of Mr. Rao in the Minister’s post would not allow fair investigation by CBI as he could influence the witnesses and tamper with documents, Mr. Keshav said.