Dharmana, Sabitha did no wrong: Kiran

HYDERABAD: Asserting that there was no prima facie case against former ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao and P Sabitha Indra Reddy, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said Tuesday his government would bear their legal expenses.

In an informal chat with reporters in his chambers in the Assembly, he said Dharmana and Sabitha had resigned in accordance with the Congress policy of not continuing in the Cabinet if charge-sheeted.

Dharmana and Sabitha have been charge-sheeted by the CBI in the Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's alleged illegal assets and related cases.

'As a Congress policy, they resigned. I do not think that Dharmana and Sabitha did a mistake individually. All the decisions were taken by the then cabinet.

There is no prima facie evidence to prove that they had benefited personally,' he maintained, adding that all the decisions were taken as per the Constitution and procedures in place. Kiran Kumar Reddy also said, 'The quid pro quo issue does not apply to them. The case is still under investigation. Let the court decide.'

Asked if the government would recover legal expenses if the duo were found guilty, he replied they would think about it after the court's verdict.

CONG WILL WIN MORE SEATS: On comments by some Congress leaders that the way the government handled the Chalo Assembly would dent the party's prospects in Telangana and lose ground in Andhra as well, the Chief Minister averred: 'Congress will form the next government both in the State and at the Centre.

In the State, the Congress will improve its numbers both in Andhra and in Telangana in the next elections. The voter may vote for one party and may change his preference if elections are held after one week. The voter mood will change in the next nine months and Congress will improve its graph in the state'.

DOING MORE: On criticism within the Congress on the new schemes, the Chief Minister said that any type of debate would help the people to know their schemes well. 'We are doing more work to overcome anti-incumbency', Kiran Reddy said.

'When I assumed office, I said that the first year will be used to wipe out negative impression against the Congress. The second year will be used for stabilising. I will take an aggressive posture in the third year,' Kiran Reddy said.

However, he clarified that the handling of Chalo Assembly was not an aggressive part of him. 'It is my duty to protect the lives of the people and properties during any agitation,' he added.

DIGVIJAYA CAN SPARE MORE TIME: On the appointment of Digvijaya Singh as State Congress affairs incharge the Chief Minister said Digvijaya Singh could spare more time for the State. Ghulam Nabi Azad as the Union Health Minister was busy and was on foreign tours for 10 days a month. 'Digvijaya Singh is well versed with state affairs and also has a good rapport with all the Congress leaders,' Kiran Reddy added.

CABINET EXPANSION: On the State Cabinet expansion, he quipped, 'I will do it after informing the media'. State Cabinet expansion would be done at an appropriate time, he said.

On the recent Union Cabinet expansion, he said that those inducted from the state would represent the country and they should not be treated as 'sub-regional ministers'.

'The government appointed four Telanganites - Advocate General, two legal secretaries and public prosecutors,' the Chief Minister recalled and said nine Union Ministers from Andhra were there because of Congress having more number of seats in Andhra. 'Telangana people will be accommodated in due course,' he added.

PR ELECTIONS: The Chief Minister said SC, ST and BC reservations would be done as per rules. The reservation process would be completed and conveyed to the State Election Commission within five days. The Panchayat Raj elections would cost the exchequer Rs 205 crore, he said.