Azad steps in on power tariff

Asks CM A to marginally reduce the burdenA New Delhi: AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad is understood to have advised Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to avoid unilateral decisions on crucial issues like the steep hike in power tariff. During election time, all the more there is a need to take along all sections of the party by evolving a broad consensus. Azad is also understood to have advised Kiran Reddy to consider at least a marginal cut in the power tariff, at least to protect the interests of the poorer sections of the people. Azad's intervention in the political crisis sparked by the decision of the state government to go in for a steep hike in power tariff was necessitated by the complaints he received from Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi and former APCC president V Hanumanth Rao. The two leaders had complained to Azad that the Chief Minister had gone in for unilateral decision on raising the power tariff. Continued from P1 When the party faces panchayat polls shortly in the state, it was pointed out that it made no political sense to go in for such a steep hike. Besides, it was also pointed out to Azad that such crucial decisions should first be discussed and considered in the Andhra Pradesh Coordination Committee, before going ahead with it. Earlier in the day, AICC secretary K B Krishnamurthy spoke VHR and based on his discussions, he submitted a report to Azad. Thereupon, Azad spoke to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. AICC Spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury sought to play down the controversy, saying that at a critical juncture, the government cannot simply refuse to restructure the power tariff and allow the shop to be closed. Renuka Chowdhury listed the factors for the power crisis in the state and praised the Chief Minister for promising to protect the interests of the farmers. Venkat Parsa