Govt. to consider bringing CMO under Lok Ayukta

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 13. The Government found itself in an unenviable situation in the Assembly on Tuesday when the Opposition demanded that it bring the Office of the Chief Minister within the purview of the Lok Ayukta.

The Congress members - Messrs N. Raghuvira Reddy, T. Jeevan Reddy, D. Nagender -- and others pointed out that the former Chief Minister, N.T. Rama Rao, had assured the House to include the Chief Minister within the ambit of the Lok Ayukta. They wanted to know what was the problem for the present Government to translate it.

The Minister for Revenue, Mr. P. Ashok Gajapati Raju, stood his ground saying although N.T. Rama Rao had assured, it could not become a reality for a variety of reasons. The suggestion for inclusion of the Chief Minister was good and welcome. Government would consider it and take an appropriate decision. He declined to give a categorical `yes' to the Opposition demand.

This figured in the course of debate on AP Loka Ayukta and Upa Loka Ayukta Act amending bill, which was later adopted by the House.

The House also adopted a bill to amend the AP Cooperative Spinning Mills (Regulation) Act. The bill, piloted by the Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, Mr. P. Bhoomanna, would bring the Chilakaluripeta Cotton Growers' Spinning Mills within the purview of the Act. It empowered the Government to appoint a special officer or a committee to manage the affairs of the mills.

The Opposition, however, expressed apprehensions that the bill was only aimed at removing hurdles in privatising the mills.

Mr. Bhoomanna impliedly conceded that the idea was to privatise the mills, but assured that the workers to be retrenched would be offered not only voluntary retirement benefits but trained to take up alternative jobs.

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