Hyderabad, Jan 11 : Offering to quit if the opposition proved its allegation that he had colluded with department officials to receive kickbacks for allowing two lakh tonnes of boiled rice from state millers to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister J Krishna Rao today said he would launch defamatory proceedings against persons concerned.
''I have not come to politics to make money. I will not succumb to such blackmail tactics. If the charge is proved, I will not continue in my post even for a single day. I will launch defamatory proceedings against persons concerned,'' the Minister told mediapersons.

Telugu Desam Party official spokesperson Kodela Sivaprasada Rao on Sunday had alleged that a Rs 26 crore scam involving Civil Supplies Minister and the department in allowing movement of two lakh tonnes of boiled rice to Tamil Nadu from the State.

Millers in the state had been functioning as two entitites-- Andhra Pradesh Rice Industries Association(APRIA) covering Telangana districts and the Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers Association(APRMA) covering Andhra region. As in the past, the permit was given in the ratio of 2.7:1 to the members of APRIA and APRMA.