Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Gollapalli does a flip-flop

HYDERABAD: Minister for Small-Scale Industries Gollapalli Surya Rao, who created a storm by levelling serious charges of corruption against Panchayat Raj Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy, retracted from his charges and claimed that the issue had been settled.

Mr. Surya Rao, who reached Amalapuram on Wednesday morning, reiterated his charges but later in the day in a virtual ‘U’ turn said the issue was a closed chapter. Talking to The Hindu from Amalapuram, Mr. Surya Rao said he had merely made remarks and not levelled charges against any person. Following a furore at the District Development Review Committee on October 25 over the concessions and exemptions, he merely voiced his opinion. “That’s all.” Earlier in the day, Mr Surya Rao created a flutter in Amalapuram where he told reporters that he had not given a clean chit to Diwakar Reddy. “My district people are also not going to give him a clean chit until the entire seinorage amount reaches the Zilla Parishad. I will continue my fight until then,” he remarked.

When asked about Mr. Diwakar Reddy being give a clean chit by the Ministers’ committee, Mr. Surya Rao shot back saying that he had not heard or read anywhere about that. “I will not give him clean chit,” he said .

Meanwhile, Mr. Diwakar Reddy said the charges had tarnished his image and he was deeply hurt over this.

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