Minister apologises to Left leaders

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao on Tuesday apologised to CPI and other Left party leaders, who were prevented from entering Dr Marri Channa Reddy HRD Institute where a workshop on Land Committee Report was to be held with leaders of various political parties.

CPI State Secretary K Narayana and Legislature Party Leader Chada Venkata Reddy were prevented from entering the meeting venue by the police. Later, when CPI(M) leader B V Raghavulu arrived at the venue, he too was prevented from entering the meeting.

Irate activists of the left party activists then raised slogans, demanding the government to distribute land to the poor.

On hearing the commotion, the Minister directed the police officials to allow the Left leaders into the auditorium.
 
Meanwhile, CPI workers demanded an apology from the Minister and threatened to walk out of the meeting if their demand was not met with.
 
Following this, the Minister expressed his regrets for not inviting some parties and their leaders for the meeting.
 
Mr Rao said the government intended to distribute land among the poor and had appointed Koneru Ranga Rao Committee to go into the matter. The Committee had made 104 recommendations on which the government wanted to elicit public opinion.

The Revenue Department had called this meeting to discuss the recommendations.