Siddipet collector Venkatrama Reddy was working as TRS agent: Congress

Hyderabad: Reacting to reports of Siddipet collector P. Venkatrama Reddy's resignation from the post to join TRS, former minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the Congress party's allegations that Reddy was a TRS agent had been proved right.

Mr. Shabbir Ali said the Congress had lodged a complaint with the President of India, Ramnath Kovind, seeking action against the district collectors of Kamareddy and Siddipet A. Sharat and P. Venkatrama Reddy they touched the feet of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in full public view during the inauguration of collector's complexes on 20 June. "The President has reacted to my complaint and referred the matter to the Union ministry of personnel and also sought a report from chief secretary Somesh Kumar."

The Centre and the chief secretary had delayed action against Venkatrama Reddy and Sharat despite the President's intervention, Mr. Ali alleged and added, "However, both were destined to face action for violation of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968."

Stating that IAS officers also serve as district magistrates, Mr. Ali said the two officials had sent a wrong message and set a wrong precedent by bowing down before the Chief Minister who is a political functionary. "Section 3 (ii) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules 1968 clearly says that every member of the service shall maintain political neutrality. Therefore, Siddipet and Kamareddy collectors were guilty of violating the AIS Rules," he further said.

Mr. Ali also slammed KCR for turning many AIS officers into his "slaves". He said, "Venkatrama Reddy is likely to be nominated as MLC as a reward for KCR's slavery. This would again prompt many more IAS and IPS officers to shun political neutrality and act as TRS functionaries." He also alleged that some IAS and IPS officers, followers of KCR, were involved in corruption, land grabbing, and other illegal activities.

He urged the President to take action on his complaint against both the district collectors irrespective of whether or not Venkatarama Reddy joins TRS to become MLC in order to seek immunity. "They have set a wrong precedent of disrespecting the Constitution by touching the feet of a political functionary and both of them must face unprecedented action for violating the AIS Rules," he said.