Vijayawada: Minister for water resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao hit back at YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy saying that he has no right to criticise the TD over special category status now, as he had compromised on the issue during the bifurcation of the state itself.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, Mr Umamaheswara Rao said that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was trying to create unrest by provoking people in the name of special status.
He said that the Opposition leader was trying to get political mileage by raising the issue of special category status. If the YSRC chief was committed to the issue, he should stage protests in Delhi, he said.
The minister alleged that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was instrumental in state bifurcation as he had entered into a secret pact with the Congress at the Centre before the bifurcation.
He alleged that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy received several kickbacks during YSR regime and was facing CBI investigation in 113 cases. Being an accused in economic offences, he has no moral right to criticise Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his family members.
The minister alleged that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was trying to create hurdles to the Polavaram project and Amaravati capital development by encouraging people to file legal petitions.
Mr Umamaheswara Rao said that despite the fin-ancial crisis, Mr Chan-drababu Naidu had been implementing several we-lfare programmes including loan waiver scheme to farmers. He said the government has been giving priority to irrigation projects and supplied water to Rayalaseema by diverting Godavari water to Krishna river through Pattiseema Lift irrigation scheme.
