No change in PRP stand, to back govt

Setting aside intense media speculation, leaders of the Praja Rajyam Party on Wednesday said that there is no change in the PRP's stand and it would continue to support the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government as decided by party president K Chiranjeevi.

Addressing media persons at the Secretariat on Wednesday, PRP MLA Bandaru Satyananda Rao, accompanied by eight of his colleagues, clarified that there was no change in the PRP stand and that it would support the state government in the interest of the state.

The PRP members also set at rest the speculations or 'creations', as they described it, appearing in the media.

The 9 PRP members met Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy and submitted a memorandum signed by all the nine MLAs, appealed to him to address the farmers' problems in the light of losses suffered by them due to unprecedented rains and floods recently.

Mr Satyananda Rao also clarified that their party MLAs had decided to meet the Chief Minister on their own. He added that Mr Ganta Srinivasa Rao coordinated the meeting and informed all the MLAs to attend.

Referring to the PRP support, Mr Satyananda Rao said that there is no second thought and second opinion about it.

Asked why Mr Chiranjeevi was not present at the meeting, Mr Satyananda Rao said that he could not accompany them due to some pending work.

The MLA also clarified that other MLAs could not be part of their delegation due to prior engagements.

He listed out by name how the other MLAs were preoccupied and could not meet the Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy and nothing can be attributed to it.

The PRP sought Rs 10,000 per hectare as compensation for rain hit farmers in the first place as decided by their party chief, who also toured extensively for collecting a firsthand account of farmers' woes.

The PRP team discussed several issues with the Chief Minister and urged him to at least sanction Rs 6000 per hectare immediately to the farmers.

Besides, the PRP members asked the Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy to consider lowering of the sales tax component in the petrol price which is the highest in the country.

They pointed out that due to hike in the petroleum products the transportation cost increased which resulted in further hike of all essential commodities.

Further, they also favoured removal VAT on kerosene.  

The Chief Minister was asked to provide MSP on grains and for sale of damaged grains.

In this connection the Chief Minister was requested to allot Rs 1000 crore for addressing various problems.

On Racha Banda scheme, they expressed confidence that the problems of the poor will be addressed on priority and that they would welcome the programme as it is a welfare scheme intended to solve the problems of the poor families.

Vanga Geetha, Avanti Srinivasa Rao, A Rambabu, Sridhar Krishna Reddy, Yelamanchili Ravi, Bellampalli Srinivasa Rao, Ch Venkaramiah were also present at the press meeting.