Shankar Rao accuses colleagues of lethargy, demands removal

Handling and Textiles Minister P Shankar Rao on Saturday demanded that all Ministers who had been serving in the state Cabinet since the time of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy be removed and new faces inducted since they have become ‘lethargic’.

Pointing out the ‘appalling apathy’ shown to him while talking to media persons at the CLP office on Saturday, Dr Shankar Rao claimed that when he asked from a Secretary to the Chief Minister whether any action has been taken on the threats against him, the Secretary said that nothing has been done.

Earlier on January 25, Dr Shankar Rao had said that he received telephonic threats from unidentified persons after his letter to the High Court which saw notices being issued to Kadapa leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy and his supporters of the amassing of wealth.

The Minister said that he was seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to enlighten them about the lack of interest shown towards his safety.

Revealing the action taken so far, Dr Shankar Rao said that Director General of Police Aravinda Rao has written a letter to Commissioner of Police, who in turn directed an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner to inquire into the threat calls.

The Minister said that he did not expect anything concrete to emerge if a police team does one or two rounds of his residence and leaves.

Dr Shankar Rao further added that he did not “expect anything else from a DGP who has been accused to having links with the accused in the fake stamp paper scam.”

Dr Shankar Rao bemoaned that the situation was such that no action is being taken on a complaint even by a Minister in the state Cabinet. He wondered about the condition of the common man, who is now left to fend for himself since the state is not interested in protecting life and property.

The Minister also vent fury at his Ministerial colleagues by saying that they had shown total disregard for his safety and had not even bothered to offer him lip service and ask him whether anything has been done to enhance the security at his place.

Dr Shankar Rao revealed that there has been no enhancing of his personal security which has been three-plus-four (three armed security personnel plus four unarmed).