A majority of the first time Congress legislators want the six Ministers on whom the Supreme Court has ordered notices to be served to resign till their innocence is proved in the controversy surrounding issuance of GOs to favour Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
“Why is the government silent when the Telugu Desam Party is creating a ruckus for the last two to three days on the issue,” a first time MLA is said to have confronted a senior Minister during a brain storming session on Wednesday in the latter's chamber. “What is wrong if the six Ministers are asked to quit their posts till they are proved innocent?” another first time MLA said.
The MLAs were of the opinion that the government's image was taking a beating on account of such controversies and involvement of the Ministers and those in responsible positions. The Minister politely told them that similar demands for sacking Ministers were made by the opposition parties during late YSR's regime but the former Chief Minister effectively countered the charges.
Bus yatra
However, he advised them to take out a bus yatra across the State that would revive the party's fortunes. He wanted them to expose the nexus between the TDP chief and the YSR Congress Party on the issue of corruption. He explained that Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy was trying to escape by throwing the blame on the Ministers. “Even if he tries to fix the Ministers, he cannot escape from the hands of the Enforcement Directorate,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Panchayat Raj K. Jana Reddy said the government would collectively respond to the notices. The Advocate General and department heads concerned were looking into the issue. “The Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will discuss the issue and take collective decision,” he remarked.
Former Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy maintained that notices are certainly a setback for the ruling party.
