Andhra CM sacks ex-Chief Secretary for FB posts

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday sacked former Chief Secretary I. Y. R. Krishna Rao as the chairman of Brahmin Welfare Corporation for his Facebook p1osts critical of the government.

Naidu cracked the whip after ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took serious note of Rao's action. and party leaders urged the Chief Minister to take the action as the former bureaucrat had crossed the limits.

Naidu felt that the retired IAS officer's activities were bringing bad name to the party and the government.

It all started when Krishna Rao made certain comments criticising the government's move to provide tax relief for the film "Gautamiputra Satakarni" but allowing distributors of "Baahubali 2" to increase the ticket price.

"Gautamiputra Satakarni" starred Chandrababu Naidu's brother-in-law and TDP legislator N. Balakrishna in the lead role.

Rao, who shared several Facebook posts criticizing the government's action with respect to the two movies, also found fault with the TDP government for arresting social media activist Inturi Ravi Kiran, who allegedly posted satirical cartoons against the Chief Minister and his son Nara Lokesh.

Addressing a news conference in Hyderabad, Rao defended his comments or sharing of some postings on social media.

Contending that he has the freedom to express his views, he said that they have nothing to do with his functioning as the chairman of Brahmin Corporation.

He dismissed the allegations that he benefitted some people from opposition YSR Congress party in granting loans from the corporation. He claimed that he went by the merits of the applicants and not by their political affiliations.

"If the Chief Minister thought I should have behaved like a TDP nominee, I am sorry, I would never become one," he said.

Krishna Rao was the first Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of the state in 2014. After his retirement last year, he was appointed as the Brahmin Corporation constituted by the government for the welfare of Brahmins.

He alleged that Naidu had not given him an appointment for six months. A few hours after his news conference, Naidu's media advisor Prakala Prabhakar told reporters in Hyderabad that Rao was never denied an appointment.

Prabhakar said as a person holding a position in the government, it was not proper for Rao to criticise the government publicly.

--IANS

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