Date:19/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/19/stories/2008031952100500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Raghuveera accepts Naidu’s challenge

Special Correspondent

The Minister says he is ready to visit Kuppam with him

HYDERABAD: Accepting the challenge thrown by Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu for visiting villages to asses the ground realities, Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy has expressed his willingness to start the “social audit” from a village of Mr. Naidu’s choice in his native Kuppam constituency.

Door-to-door inspection

The TDP president should abide by his challenge and take out some time from his “busy schedule” and suggest date and time for the visit either to a specific village or all the villages in his constituency to get first hand information about the reach of the Government’s programmes.

“Let Mr. Naidu come forward for a door-to-door inspection of whether the Government schemes are reaching the needy. We will not stand on prestige and are ready to correct mistakes if any that come out during the inspection,” he said.

Appropriate place

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said he thought Kuppam to be an appropriate constituency as Mr. Naidu would be more comfortable there.

“I will personally write to Mr. Naidu if he does not respond and request to him not to allow his ‘side actors’ to make statements,” he said.