Kanna tries to steer clear of GO row

Accuses TDP of indulging in mudslinging against himA

Hyderabad: Minister for Agriculture Kanna Lakshminarayana on Tuesday sought to distance himself from the controversy in regard to GO Ms No 12, pertaining to the sanction of Rs 3.15 crore towards reimbursement of stamp duty and registration to Ramky Pharma City on the first transfer of land from the government to the company.

At a media conference, Lakshminarayana remarked that he was in no way concerned with the GO and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was indulging in mudslinging against him. He said that, on Monday, a delegation led by N Chandrababu Naidu had met the Governor and demanded that the tainted ministers be sacked, wherein Naidu quoted this GO.

The Minister said the GO was issued by Industries and Commerce Department on February 26, 2010, at the level of Principal Secretary Sam Bob. Though he was the minister for major industries then, he did not see the file. Quoting from the GO, he said that it clearly mentioned that the file was not circulated to him because the decision to refund stamp duty and registration fees was already taken vide GO Rt No 741 in November 2006, when Geeta Reddy was the minister for major industries.

The Minister informed that the file was circulated to the then chief minister through the chief secretary and the recommendation was approved by the chief minister and orders were issued. Kanna said that it seemed as if Naidu had forgotten the allegations of corruption that were levelled against him. "The TDP is not able to face me politically and hence it is making such allegations," the Minister said. Replying to a question on dropping of the tainted ministers, Kanna said that the party high command would take care of it. The ministers were facing problems because of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, he added.

TDP reiterates charges Meanwhile, TDP leaders D Narendra and Kodela Sivaprasad Rao reiterated that Kanna had a role to play in the corruption that took place during the regime of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. They alleged that Kanna who did not even have a house of his own then, today owned crores of rupees and they asked him to explain how he had amassed so much of wealth.

While Narendra alleged that the Minister's son had a unit in the Ramky Pharma City, Kodela demanded that the Minister should make his assets public, as Naidu had done. Kanna had grabbed endowments land in Nuzivid, he alleged.

YSRCP objects to Kanna's remarks Member of the political affairs committee of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) D A Somayajulu took strong objection to the remarks made by Kanna against Jaganmohan Reddy. He said that the Minister had stated, before the Supreme Court, that there was nothing wrong in the GOs, now he is saying that Jagan was responsible for the charges against the ministers. Kanna should clearly explain the real situation, he added.