Chhattisgarh declares state mourning on death of AP CM Rajasekhara

     Raipur, September 3, 2009: Chhattisgarh government today cancelled all official entertainment programmes while declaring one day state mourning on death of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.

     Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh expressed deep sorrow over the death of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Reddy, officials and pilots.

     The chopper carrying the Chief Minister, his Principal Secretary P Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley, pilot Group Captain S K Bhatia and co-pilot M S Reddy crashed atop the Rudrakonda hill in the Nallamalla range, about 40 nautical miles east of Kurnool yesterday and was traced today by the Indian Air Force and other personnel.
     Reddy was a labourious and committed leader of Andhra Pradesh, with whom, Singh said, he had an old friendly relationship.

    Politically both of them had different views but on many issues like Naxalism their views were the same, Singh said adding Andhra Pradesh would ever remember the contribution of Reddy.

       Meanwhile, the state Government had declared a day long state mourning today and said during this period there would not be any official entertainment programme also.