Hyderabad: A day after endowments minister Konda Surekha complained to the chief minister against him, Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari on Wednesday dismissed the allegations that he violated protocol and accused the minister of lacking awareness.During an interaction with media persons in Warangal, Kadiyam Srihari responded to Konda Surekha’s complaint and said he had only exercised his right as an elected representative and did not commit any mistake or violate protocol.The minister wrote to the CM that Kadiyam Srihari met the endowments commissioner on Monday and held a review meeting on temples, a subject that comes under her portfolio of endowments, and that she was neither informed about it nor was permission taken for the review.She sought a disciplinary committee inquiry and action against the MLA, alleging that he had conducted an unauthorised review meeting.Kadiyam Srihari clarified that he met the endowments commissioner only to discuss issues related to five temples located in his assembly constituency, including repair works and recruitment.“MLAs and MLCs are free to meet district collectors or any senior officer in the govt and submit representations on public issues. Yes, I know ministers or those holding cabinet rank are authorised to conduct official review meetings, while MLAs and MPs participate in such meetings,” Kadiyam Srihari said, who had earlier served as deputy chief minister in the previous BRS govt. He is one of the 10 BRS MLAs who has been cleared of defection charges by the speaker.Stating that it would have been a review meeting if officials had come to his office, he said he went to the endowments office instead. The minister has misunderstood the issue due to a lack of awareness.Giving an example, he said an MLA cannot object when a sarpanch or ZPTC member meets a district collector or senior official over local issues citing jurisdiction.The political atmosphere in Warangal has been witnessing complaints and counter-complaints in Congress camps for the last one year. Many of the MLAs, MLCs and an MP had, in the past, complained to the TPCC disciplinary action committee against minister Konda Surekha that she was functioning unilaterally even in their constituencies.
