Union Minister of State for Toursim K .Chiranjeevi said here on Tuesday that despite his personal view to the contrary, he would abide by any decision on the Telangana statehood issue taken by AICC president Sonia Gandhi.
Addressing an impressive public meeting, his first visit to the district after assuming the Minister’s office, after laying foundation for several development programmes to benefit the Huzurnagar constituency, along with his two Cabinet colleagues S. Satyanarayana and Balram Naik, he called for early decision by the Centre. This is necessary to avoid any unrest in the State, he said.
The Union Minister included laid stone for Rs.40 crore housing project to build 3,000 houses and Rs.260 crore Huzurnagar Housing Colony Road and Rs.147 crore lift irrigation scheme to benefit three mandals.
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Mr. Chiranjeevi hit out at the Telugu Desam Party, without naming it, for shedding crocodile tears on farmers, after ‘breaking their back’ during its rule. He described as ‘false propaganda’ criticism that the State is not taking up welfare programmes for the benefit of the poor. He asserted that he is ready to tour any constituency to rebut attacks on the government’s policies.
The Union Minister dismissed adverse comments by a Congress MLA from the district against himself and Housing Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy as ‘ avakkulu chevakkulu ’ (senseless talk) and backed Mr. Reddy for his blasting of the MLA at the meeting, refuting the allegations.
He showered praises on the Minister and his wife Padamavati for the couple’s dedicated service to people in the constituency.
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Mr. Satyanarana and Mr. Balram Naik pointed out that only Ms. Sonia Gandhi could a take a decision in favour of Telangana. Mr. Satyanarayana claimed that the statehood could have been created in 2009, but his own partymen had frustrated the Centre’s plan. He announced that the National Highway 65 would be inaugurated soon. Huzurnagar, Kodad, Miryalaguda and Khammam would be linked to the highway.
Nalgonda MP G. Sukender Reddy spoke.
Legislators Balu Naik, Bikshmaiah Goud, Bharati Naik, N. Vidyasagar, DCC president T. Devender Reddy, and Collector N. Mukteswara Rao were among those present.