There was a war of words on the “meagre allocations” for the State in the Union Budget between Endowments Minister P. Manikyala Rao and Pithapuram MLA S.V.S.N. Varma in the presence of the media at Pithapuram on Friday. Mr. Manikyala Rao visited the Sri Viswa Vignana Vidya Adhyatmika Peetham to take part in the annual religious conference.
‘Nothing serious’
When a few reporters sought his opinion on the ongoing furore over the Budget, Mr. Rao said there was no need for taking seriously the rift between the TDP and the BJP as it would be addressed in a matter of time. He said there was no question of a split between the two parties. There should not be any doubt on the quantum of funds being released by the Centre for the State’s development, he added. “It is like differences between a husband and a wife. But they will run the house together,” Mr. Rao said, and termed as adequate the funds being allocated to the State.
Mr. Varma, however, intervened and made it clear that the budgetary allocation was not at all a petty issue. “We cannot take the wife for granted. If she is not happy with the husband, she will not spare him,” he said in a serious tone.
