| Govt. image down : Anam Hyderabad, Feb 4 : The image of the Andhra Pradesh government has taken a beating, admitted a senior Cabinet Minister , here today. Speaking to the media persons, in his chamber, Finance Minister Anam Ram Narayan Reddy made clear that the Andhra Pradesh Government administration was referred to as one of the best in the country, but today, on account of illegal assets accumalation and illegal occupation of prime lands, which attracted the attention of CBI and its interrogations under which several IAS officers were charge sheeted. He said it was unfortunate to find such a situation in which several civil servants were subjected to CBI interrogation for their alleged involvement in several cases. As the Minister and served various department " but I find this peculiar situation for the first time in my career". He also pointed out, that those who looted public funds secretly and stashed away in foreign banks are now on pilgrimage. In the process certain innocent civil servants were victimised. He maintained that, those found guilty by the CBI must come out clean after proving their innocence before the enquiry. Clarifying a point, posed by the IAS officers Association yesterday, the Minister observed that both Public Representatives and Civil servants together comprised of the government and administration. He specifically mentioned that the Ministers if found guilty or expected to prove their innocence. Ready for talks if govt invites us: AP junior doctors Hyderabad, Feb 4 : The junior doctors who have been agitating for hike in stipend and other demands across Andhra Pradesh for the past three weeks today again said that they were open to talks with the government, if invited. "We are ready to hold talks with the state government but it should invite us. The government has only been asking us to call off the strike, but it is not holding talks to address our demands," AP Junior Doctors' JAC convener, Dr M I Abhilash, said here. The condition of 12 doctors who are on hunger strike at Gandhi Hospital here since last Wednesday was not well, he said. With the striking doctors boycotting outpatient services, classes and elective duties, the health services in teaching hospitals and government hospitals state continued to be affected. Earlier talks between junior doctors and the four-member cabinet sub-committee (including State Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy) had failed. Among other things, junior doctors are seeking regularisation of services and hike in monthly stipend from Rs 18,000 to Rs 33,000. APIIC-Emaar scam: AP Home Secretary Acharya suspended Hyderabad, Feb 4 : Andhra Pradesh government today suspended senior IAS officer and Principal Secretary (Home) B P Acharya who was arrested by CBI in connection with a scam relating to an township project here. The state government said the 1983-batch IAS officer was placed under suspension following his detention for over 48 hours in the APIIC-Emaar scam. According to the government order, "Acharya is under suspension with effect from January 30, the date on which he was detained. He shall continue to be under suspension until further orders." Acharya, former Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), is accused by CBI of having entered into a criminal conspiracy with officials of Emaar Group and unnamed public servants to cheat APIIC and secure wrongful gains to Dubai-based infrastructure firm Emaar. During the period of suspension, Acharya's headquarters will be Hyderabad, which he cannot leave without the government permission, the order said. As per All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, a member of the Service, who is detained in official custody, on a criminal charge or otherwise, for over 48 hours, he or she would be deemed to have been suspended. Another IAS officer appears before CBI in Jagan case Hyderabad, Feb 4 : Another senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Saturday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case involving alleged illegal assets of YSR Congress party leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. K. Ratna Prabha, an IAS officer of Karnataka cadre who worked in Andhra Pradesh on deputation for last six years, was quizzed by CBI officials for over three hours at Dilkusha guest house, the camp office of the CBI, the agency's officials said. The lady bureaucrat had worked as secretary in revenue, urban land ceiling and information technology departments when Jaganmohan Reddy's father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister. She is the third IAS officer to appear before the CBI in the case during the last three days. Former chief secretary P. Ramakanth Reddy and secretary, general administration, Ajay Mishra were questioned by the investigating agency with regard to the files signed by them. The CBI believes many projects were approved during YSR's rule on a quid-pro-quo basis to favour companies which invested in the business of Jaganmohan Reddy, who is MP from Kadapa. |
