Shankar Rao slams CM for stripping DL'S portfolios

Former minister Dr P Shankar Rao has criticised Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for taking away important portfolios of DL Ravindra Reddy during the recent cabinet reshuffle.

Talking to reporters at the Congress Legislature Party office here on Wednesday, Dr Shankar Rao alleged that the Chief Minister has been targeting the leaders who have raised voice against corruption. "While I was dropped from the State Cabinet, Ravindra Reddy was stripped of portfolios," he alleged adding that both of them have spoken against the alleged corrupt practices of YSR Congress party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Dr Shankar Rao also demanded action against Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, who has been accused of taking bribe from the liquor syndicate. Questioning the silence of the Chief Minister on the issue, he asked him to sack Mopidevi for indulging in corruption.

The former minister criticised the Chief Minister for reducing the portfolios of Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha. He said technically, the Deputy Chief Minister should get the portfolio of Home Ministry. Instead of giving important portfolio to Raja Narasimha, the Chief Minister has taken away the important portfolio of agriculture from him.

Dr Shankar Rao also demanded action against Home Minister P Sabitha Indira Reddy and her son for their alleged involvement in various irregularities. He ridiculed Sabitha's reported statement that she was forced by IAS officials to sign on some documents. He said it was impossible for any official to force a minister to sign on any document. Therefore, he demanded that Kiran Kumar Reddy take severe action against the Home Minister