Date:12/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/12/stories/2005021208010400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

APCC chief denies differences with YSR

By Our Correspondent

KAKINADA, FEB. 11. The APCC president, K. Keshava Rao has denied any differences between him and the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and blamed the media for coming out with "misleading'' stories on his recent trip to Delhi and on his discussions with the party high command.

At a press conference here on Friday while on his way to Vetlapalem, near here, to attend the District Congress Committee meeting, Dr. Keshava Rao said the so-called differences reported in the media were totally baseless and unfounded.

He tried to give an advice to mediamen, saying the Fourth Estate should be free from the maladies faced by other wings of democracy. He made it clear that his relations with the Chief Minister were most cordial and both were striving to consolidate the position of the party and Sonia Gandhi's leadership.

Discordant notes

Conceding that the public utterances of G. Venkataswamy, MP, and M. Satyanarayana Rao, Endowments Minister, against the functioning of the Government and the Chief Minister were not in the interest of the party, and would send wrong signals, Dr. Keshava Rao said he would talk to Mr. Venkataswamy and find out under what context he described the actions of Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy as "unilateral."

The PCC president also made it clear that a senior leader like Mr. Satyanarayana Rao might have said in a fit of anger that he was prepared to resign, if needed, on the issue of selecting people for nominated posts.

On the remarks made by a TRS Minister recently here on Andhra and Telangana officers, he simply brushed it aside saying much importance should not be attached to such things.

"That gentleman has even used harsh language against a Collector. That is his stature. Let us not bother too much about it," he said.

Talks with naxals

Asked about the resumption of talks with the Maoists, Dr. Keshava Rao said that the Government was sincere and committed to continuing the talks in the interest of achieving ever-lasting peace.