Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100755250600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Embarrassment for Minister

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: It was an embarrassment for Endowments Minister J. Ratnakar Rao on Monday, when the police stopped the fleet of vehicles following his own while on his way to Indrakeeladri.

Regional Joint Commissioner of Endowments S. Kondal Rao, who was accompanying the Minister, said that the police stopped the vehicles for about 30 minutes around 9.30 a.m.

The police “argued” that only two vehicles would be allowed to proceed, though they were aware that the Minister was travelling in one of the vehicles, he said.

S. Jogeswara Rao, Protocol Officer in the Endowments Department, said that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) N. Sriramachandra Murthy did not allow him to accompany the Minister, though he revealed his identity.