Guntur: Senior Congress MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao has taken exception to AP government's decision of bearing legal expenses of five ministers, who received notices from the Supreme Court seeking explanation with regard to controversial 26 Government Orders.
The CBI had filed disproportionate assets case against Kadapa MP and YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy last year, on the basis of these 26 government orders.
The five ministers, who received notices from the apex court are Dharmana Prasada Rao (previously Revenue), J Geeta Reddy (Major Industries), P Sabita Reddy (previously Mines), Kanna Lakshminarayana (previously Major Industries), Ponnala Lakshmaiah (previously Irrigation).
In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Sambasiva Rao has described the government's decision as "outrageous and revolting", which goes against Congress' "avowed policy of the combating corruption at high places".
"It unwittingly gives a big stick to Anna Hazare and co to beat the Congress," he lamented.
Sambasiva Rao pointed out that several other leaders in the country, who are facing charges of corruption in various courts, are meeting their legal expenses from their personal funds.
Sambasiva Rao recalled Congress leaders' "bitter experience" in the electioneering in the June 12 Prathipadu Assembly by-election, Guntur district.
Rao observed that government's decision sends wrong signals that the Congress is rewarding corruption.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 20:43