MLAs Naik, Yadagiri fail in bid to meet CM

TRS MLAs Shankar Naik, who is facing charges of misbehaving with Mahbubabad collector Preeti Meena, and Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy, who is facing allegations of abusing Jangaon collector and other officials, met Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari and Chief Secretary S.P. Singh on Saturday and explained their side of the incident.

The two MLAs had earlier tried to get Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s appointment but in vain.

Mr Naik has been trying to meet the CM since Friday. Mr Rao is currently at his farmhouse in Erravelli on the city outskirts.

Mr Naik tried to meet Mr Rao in his farmhouse on Friday and sought his appointment, but the CM’s security personnel refused him entry saying that no appointment was given.

Mr Naik came to Secretariat on Saturday and met Mr Srihari and Mr Singh.

Later Mr Yadagiri Reddy also followed him.

Mr Naik said despite his tendering a public apology to collector though the incident happened involuntarily, the IAS Officers’ Association has been demanding action against him.

“I have not committed any mistake. The incident happened involuntarily. Even then, I tendered an apology to the collector. The IAS Officers’ Association still complained to CS and demanded action against me which is not fair. I have clarified my stand on this issue more than once,” Mr Naik said.

Mr Yadagiri Reddy said, “I have never abused collector or any other staff. I only approach collector or other staff for redressal of public grievances submitted to me. Such grievances are pending since months. We are responsible and answerable to the people in our constituency. We are under pressure from our constituency people. We want collector or any government staff to act fast and redress their grievances. Sometimes, we may lose temper if things are delayed unnecessarily. It should not be viewed as abusing or insulting them.”