KCR skips Iftar to avoid bumping into Naidu HYDERABAD: Those who turned up for the Iftar hosted by Governor ESL Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan hoped to see how AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao would behave when they come face to face but they were in for a major disappointment.
Though Naidu turned up at about 7 pm, KCR chose to give it a miss, probably not interested in bumping into Naidu at the party. Though KCR had said that he had respect for Naidu as Chief Minister of his neighbouring state, the political enmity between the two leaders is very well known.
In the backdrop of several issues becoming a bone of contention between the two states, including fee reimbursement, sharing of river states and investing Governor with powers of law and order over Hyderabad, KCR probably had thought it would be better to skip the meeting rather than face Naidu with an artificial smile on his face. KCR has sent Finance Minister Etela Rajender and Home Minister Nayani Narasimhan Reddy to represent him at the party.
Though KCR did not turn up, AP Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did make his presence felt there apparently much to the chagrin of Naidu. Only a few hours earlier, Jagan Mohan Reddy had slammed Naidu for curtailing the size of farm loan waiver and asked his partymen to observe the next three days to set fire to Nadiu's effigies likening Naidu to demon Narakasura.
Neither Naidu nor Jagan stayed at the Iftar for long. After shaking hands with the governor, they went round greeting the other guests and left.
News Posted: 24 July, 2014
|