Many ministers back Dharmana

[1]

Several ministers on Thursday rallied behind Dharmana Prasada Rao who resigned after the CBI chargesheeted him in Jagan Mohan Reddy’s illegal investments case. The revenue minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, finance minister Mr Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and tourism minister Mr Vatti Vasanth Kumar, in separate media interactions, said the Cabinet would stand behind Mr Prasada Rao.

Maintaining that all the decisions that were attributed to Dharmana were taken by the Cabinet, Mr Raghuveera Reddy said it was a collective responsibility of the Cabinet and not individual decisions by the minister concerned. The revenue minister also ruled out taking back Vanpic lands at this stage. Several departments are involved in the project and the revenue department alone cannot take a decision to resume lands allotted or acquired for the project, he said.

Speaking to mediapersons as part of “Prajahitam”, an interaction programme with media, the minister explained that the proposed land policy would set right the discrepancies in land allotment. He said the government was actively considering reforms in the revenue administration including setting up new divisions. Mr Ramanarayana Reddy and Mr Vasanth Kumar also said Dharmana need not quit as he did not commit any mistake. Ministers and Congress leaders continue to visit Dharmana at his official residence in Ministers Quarters. The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is yet to take a decision on the resignation.