Reddy paranoid: AP minister attacks him over airport protest

Andhra Pradesh minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao today criticised Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Y S Jaganmohan Reddy for his "behaviour" during a protest in Vizag airport yesterday, saying his claims of becoming a chief minister after two years was an "illusion".

"In Vizag airport Jagan claimed he is the next chief minister and threatened to target police officials who stopped him from leaving the airport. These are the qualities of people who are suffering from paranoia," the Irrigation Minister said.

YSR Congress Party president Reddy was not allowed by the police to leave the Vizag airport after he arrived from Hyderabad yesterday to take part in a protest scheduled at the city's R K Beach demanding special status for Andhra.
 

Rao sarcastically said Reddy holds responsible position and "we offer support to him and his family members for cure".

In a counter to Congress Rajya Sabha MP K V P Ramachandra Rao's allegations that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took full credit for Polavaram project, Maheswara Rao said the Congress-led Union Cabinet in a meeting on 2nd March 2014 declined the request for issuing Polavaram Ordinance for the transfer of seven mandals to Andhra Pradesh.

"The same ordinance was passed in May after the Modi government took charge because of quick efforts of Chief Minister Naidu along with efforts of other stake holders. Passage of ordinance would have been difficult post June 2, designated date of bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh," Rao said.

The Ordinance was cleared in the first meeting of the Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier in the day, RS MP K V P Ramachandra Rao spoke to reporters here and said the Centre was trying to appease the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leadership rather than fulfilling the promises made to the people of Andhra during the time of bifurcation.

The MP also alleged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was focusing more on Polavaram than on demanding Special Category Status for AP.

"Polavaram was a project conceived designed and started under the Congress regime itself," said Ramachandra Rao.

The Congress MP in a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee urged a status report from the Centre on the implementation of AP Reorganization Act, 2014, and on the promises.