KCR may patch up with Modi
Hyderabad: In a bid to build bridges with the Centre, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If the efforts of his emissaries succeed, the meeting is likely to take place soon after KCR returns from Singapore tour, scheduled from August 19.
Battling a string of problems back home and disputes with Andhra Pradesh on a variety of issues, KCR wants to establish sound working relationship with the NDA government at the Centre.
The Chief Minister is also aware of the new State's dependence on the Union government for liberal flow of funds. The State government is beset with a set of thorny issues like special powers to the Governor to oversee law and order in Hyderabad, waiver of crop loans, allocation of All India Service officers to the State, power procurement, initiation of centrally sponsored projects like setting up of super thermal power plant by NTPC.
The Chief Minister is keen on dispelling an impression being created in some circles that his government was adopting a confrontationist approach towards the Centre. There is also a perception that KCR is turning arrogant and unhelpful.
'We are trying to allay such impressions. Our officials and MPs are making efforts to remove any misgivings about the intentions of the government,' the sources in the Chief Minister's Office said.
Karimnagar MP Vinod, CM's Principal Secretary S Narasinga Rao and advisor Papa Rao were seriously working on allaying these fears, the sources said. Chief Minister's advisor Papa Rao would leave for New Delhi next week to prepare the ground for a possible meeting between KCR and Modi.
The Chief Minister is yet to meet Modi though he had visited Delhi soon after taking over the reins of the State. KCR could not get Prime Minister's appointment then, creating an impression that all is not well between the Centre and the State.
The CMO officials have now started damage control exercise and asked their emissaries to work out a strategy to break the ice. The CMO has directed the MPs to use the August 18 meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh to send positive message that they were not on a collision course with the Centre.
News Posted: 13 August, 2014
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