Hyderabad, Sep 3 (Inditop.com) Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K. Rosaiah, who is likely to be appointed caretaker chief minister, broke down during a news conference Thursday while announcing the death of chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.
The 76-year-old leader, the seniormost minister in the cabinet, could not control himself when he made the formal announcement that the chief minister had died.
“I had never imagined that I will have to announce this bad news. I am not able to digest his demise. The man who was working among us till yesterday suddenly disappeared,” said Rosaiah, who has been guiding the state government in key policy matters during the last five years.
“People prayed across the state… prayed for his safety yesterday and throughout the night. There were prayers in temples, mosques, churches and gurdwaras but god willed otherwise,” he said in a choking voice.
“We were working with Mr Rajasekhara Reddy till day before yesterday night. He was with us during the debate on appropriation bill in the assembly. After the bill was passed in the assembly, he went out and later telephoned me to inform that he will not able to come to the council and wanted me to take care of the same,” he said.
“Late in the night he congratulated me. I wanted to know what was the matter. He said the assembly and council business is over and we will be a bit free. I am not able to describe the affection he was showing to me and other ministers,” said Rosaiah.
The finance minister said YSR’s death was not only a personal loss to him but a great loss to the state and the country. “He was only 60 and was healthy. He had a long life before him and would have done much more for people but fate cut short his life,” he said.