Textiles minister P Shankar Rao, who had attainted adverse publicity for slapping his private secretary during his tour to coastal Andhra last week, on Monday threatened to quit his job if the chief Minister Kirankumar reddy does not release funds for the loan waiver scheme for handloom workers by April 30.

Addressing media persons at his chambers, Shankar Rao said out of the allotted funds of Rs.309 Cr for loan waiver scheme, only Rs.100 Cr was released till now and the remaining balance is yet to be released.

“I will soon meet the chief minister and tell him I will quit my post if funds are not released by this month end,” Shankar rao said. “If there are no funds, how can I perform?” he asked. “There is no necessity of a minister like me to look after weavers’ welfare when there is no cooperation from the government.” 

When journalists asked him if it was true he had slapped his private secretary during his recent trip to coastal Andhra area, he replied in the negative and said media telecast the news to malign him.

Shankar rao however conveniently forgot that TV channels showed clear visuals in which he had slapped his secretary for handing over a mobile and asking him to answer it.