Minister: Diwakar Reddy took bribe

In what could turn out to be a major political embarrassment for the Congress Government, two senior Ministers – G. Surya Rao (Small Scale Industries) and J.C. Diwakar Reddy (Panchayat Raj) – publicly traded charges of corruption.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, on Sunday took a serious note of the rivalry between two of his Cabinet ministers, Mr J.C. Diwakar Reddy, and Mr G. Surya Rao. The Chief Minister asked veteran ministers, Mr K. Rosaiah, K. Ranga Rao and Geetha Reddy to go into the details of the controversy and submit a report to him as early as possible.

Mr. Surya Rao alleged at the Zilla Parishad meeting that his fellow Minister took bribes to the tune of Rs. 7 crore in sand mining contracts and forced the officials to purchase a car exclusively for his use whenever he visits the district. “Ever since his appointment as the Minister in-charge, Mr. Diwakar Reddy’s behaviour had lowered the party’s prestige in the district,” he said.

Mr Surya Rao told mediapersons that the minister bought a new car worth Rs 12 lakh with the money given by some traders of East Godavari district.

According to sources the differences between the two ministers intensified a few months ago when a woman mandal parishad development officer of Upplaguptam was transferred against the wishes of Mr Surya Rao. Mr Rao’s supporters also wanted to protest against the transfer when Diwakar Reddy last visited Kakinada.

Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao who felt that the issue was sure to dent the party’s image and prospects wanted the Chief Minister to take immediate damage control measures.

Minister Pilli Subash Chandra Bose, who also belongs to East Godavari, demanded that Mr. Surya Rao withdraw his remarks as they tantamounted to character assassination of Mr. Diwakar Reddy. He opined that the matter could be inquired, if necessary, but it was not fair on the part of Mr. Surya Rao to castigate Mr. Diwakar Reddy in such a brazen manner.

ZP Chairman Ch. Venugopala Krishna felt that the comments without verifying facts would damage the party’s reputation when it was gearing up to face elections. (Hindu)