Hyderabad: State agriculture minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao has criticised Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind and opined his comments reflect lack of political understanding. The minister wondered why the two-time MP did not show restraint while making remarks against him.
In an open letter, Tummala wrote, “The Centre did not exhibit the federal spirit while announcing the board. As agriculture minister I have been putting pressure on the Centre seeking it. But despite that in the interest of farmers I welcomed the decision and thanked the PM and the commerce minister. The state government will extend all the help needed in the process of its institution. The Bodhan sugar factory issue comes under the purview of the industry minister but as part of the team I will take up the issue with the minister concerned and address it.”
Tracing his political journey since 1983, he averred though he had worked under chief ministers like NTR, Chandrababu Naidu, K. Chandrashekar Rao and the incumbent A. Revanth Reddy, his priority was to serve the people and he got approvals for many road and irrigation projects (except Kaleshwaram). All these leaders included him in their Cabinets and he never lobbied before any of them.
He also reminded that he had played a key role in conceptualising and executing Singeetam Kalyani, Lakshmi Canal, Sarada Sagar, Lakshmi Sagar, Indalwai lift irrigation schemes in the united state of Andhra Pradesh as irrigation minister.
“I played a role in the construction of national highways and those being laid now. This will be evident to him (Aravind) if he speaks to senior leaders of his party. I steered clear of the issuing of bond papers to the public by him and did not speak about it,” the minister said.
