Happy over 3-yr stint as Deputy CM, says Srihari

Hanamkonda: The Deputy Chief Minister K Srihari said that his three years stint as the Deputy CM and Education Minister has given immense satisfaction. He claimed that during the past three years, he was able to make great efforts towards development of Warangal district as well the field of education in the State with the active support of the Chief Minister, K Chandrashekar Rao.

“I thank the CM profoundly for giving me this opportunity and Warangal public for supporting me,” he said. Srihari spoke to the press in Hanamkonda on Thursday marking completion of three years as the Deputy Chief Minister. It might be noted that he was made the Deputy CM and was given education portfolio in a series of rapid developments on January 25, 2015 after sacking the former Deputy CM T Rajaiah.

He said he had withdrawn the idea of retiring from active politics. He reportedly expressed his desire to retire during an informal chat with media persons in Assembly lobbies in November 2017. “I had seen many peaks and nadirs in my 30 years of political career and wanted to retire happily after 2019. But the CM told me to leave the decision of quitting politics to public and suggested me to continue in politics,” Srihari said.

‘I am happy to earn a good reputation as an honest politician during my three decades of political career. My integrity is my confidence. My opponents might speak a lot about me, but I know what I am and have faith of the public in me,’ he added.

He said the CM, who had a special affection for Warangal, have sanctioned numerous developmental projects and the setting up of Kakatiya Mega Textile Park would change the face of the district in terms of economic growth.

Referring to the issue of regulating fees in private schools, he said the schools have to follow the State government guidelines on collecting fees. Notices were given to erring schools. The managements of private schools have knocked the doors of the court seeking stay on the government orders and notices.

The courts, which were directing the government to regulate the fees collection in private schools, have on the other hand were staying the orders issued by the government and it has become a problem for the government to implement its orders.

Soon a meeting with the Advocate General of the State would be convened to discuss the issue. A committee headed by Prof Tirupathi Rao has submitted its report on collection of fees in private educational institutions and it was being examined, Srihari noted.

He dismissed the chances of reducing the number of newly formed districts in Telangana. The decision was already made and now altering it might lead to protests by public. Present number of 31 districts would continue to exist, though there might be merger or demerger of villages and mandals, he said.