• Both the Congress and Left favour land distribution, but are at loggerheads with each other. Why?

Probably the Left is insecure that we are taking away their agenda. Never before has land distribution been done at the speed we are doing. In the last three years, my Government has distributed 4.5 lakhs acres of land. The Left wants to take credit for what I am doing, by agitating. Earlier they used to demand ration cards for all. Through a special drive we distributed ration cards to 82 per cent of the population and they cannot make an issue out of it now. The same thing is happening on the question of landless people. Last year the Government built 19 lakh houses at a cost of Rs 40,000 each.

• The Left has demanded an ombudsman to check irregularities in the housing project. Will you concede?

We have a strong vigilance system and an ombudsman is not necessary.

• The Left has also demanded an autonomous commission to oversee land distribution. Do you think it is necessary?

How can you have a commission to oversee an executive function? Under what laws? Do they have such commissions in Kerala or West Bengal? If they have, they should tell me.

• So you think the Left agitation was unnecessary?

Absolutely unnecessary.

• The Left has also demanded allotment of title rights to lands forcibly occupied by agitators. Will you oblige?

How can that happen in a democracy? Someone will occupy property—belonging to private, Government or Waqf bodies—and force us to allot it? This cannot happen in rule of law.

• When Congress President Sonia Gandhi called you after the Khammam firing, did she tell you to go soft on the Left because the Centre survives on their support?

It is a fact that their support is necessary. It is also a fact that we indulge them a lot. The Congress President told me to accommodate them as much as possible.

• Did you feel betrayed by the Left? Are they demanding too much?

I think the CPI is reasonable, but the CPI-M wants to have the cake and eat it too. I can only accept what is acceptable. I cannot let anarchy prevail.

• Your police filed an FIR against Taslima Nasreen whereas the MLAs who attacked her are roaming free. Isn’t that anarchy?

Only an FIR has been registered against Taslima, by one of the MLAs. The police cannot refuse to file an FIR. The MLAs involved were arrested and released on bail. In Andhra Pradesh, no constitutional freedom of anyone can be curtailed by anyone.

• Are you a reformer or a populist?

I am a reformer and believe in liberalisation. The pro-poor initiatives are exactly what our party calls reforms with a human face.

• But you are accused of being an authoritarian.

Only two Congress MLAs have ever complained against me.

• Congress has 38 MPs from Andhra Pradesh. You may be losing most of them next time?

When we go to next elections, 1.5 crore voters will be living in houses provided by this Government. There will be 50 lakh beneficiaries of old-age pension. There are more than a crore Self Help Groups, already distributing Rs 7,000 crore in loans at three per cent interest. Far from losing, we will get more in the next elections.

• Are you in touch with the Telengana Rashtra Samiti? Will they be your partner in the next elections?

We are in touch with them. They should have been a little more patient on the issue of Telengana. We would like them to be on our side and there is a good possibility of that happening.