The Hindu : TDP Govt. should go, says Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

TDP Govt. should go, says Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

Congress leaders presenting a memorandum demanding the dismissal of the TDP Government to the Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, in Hyderabad on Tuesday. - Photo: P. V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD Sept. 16. The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Tuesday demanded that the State Government be dismissed for its failure to control the numerous scandals, which are regularly coming to light in the State.

``There is a complete constitutional breakdown in the State and the people are feeling insecure. The only remedy for the people is the dismissal of the Chandrababu Naidu Government,'' the PCC president, D. Srinivas, said.

A delegation of senior Congress leaders including the CLP leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, former Chief Ministers and former Union Ministers led by Mr Srinivas submitted a memorandum to the Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, urging him to intervene and take up the matter of invoking Article 356 in the State with the Central Government. Outlining the various issues including the fake currency racket, Yeleru dispute, cyclone relief scandal, rice diversion scandal and the latest fake stamp paper scam, the Congress leaders alleged in their memorandum that the TDP men and those who are close to the Chief Minister are involved in all the scandals. "The scandals are taking place right under the nose of the Chief Minister. The fake stamp paper scam is only a tip of the iceberg of the criminal activities of the Telugu Desam Party,'' they said.

Mr. Naidu knew very well about the fake stamp paper scandal, the `mother of all scandals' in the country, but deliberately did not initiate any action against the racketeers. Moreover, the statements of the Chief Minister and the DGP denouncing the reports of involvement of any other politicians or policemen amounted to influencing the investigation process. It was being reported in the newspapers that the stamp paper racket also had links with the mafia, which was funding the terrorist activities in the country. "There is a total economic breakdown as the mafia is running a parallel economy,'' the Congress leaders said.

Referring to various problems including the shortage of irrigation water being faced in different parts of the State, the Congress leaders said that the Government is not bothered about the sufferings of the people, but is interested in Formula One races. "One can perceive the priorities - interests of the common man or the pleasures of a few elite to ultimately suit their needs,'' they said.

Explaining to the Governor the scandals, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy said that not only were thousands of crores of rupees squandered but the State is being ruled by the mafia. A Cabinet Minister was facing trial in a twin murder case, while another was involved in the bomb blast in his house, which killed three persons.

"The CBI which investigated the case wanted the Centre to permit prosecution of the Minister, but Mr Naidu brought pressure on the Centre for denying the same,'' he said.

Mr. Rosaiah told the Governor that different newspapers in the State reported about 51 scandals in the month of August alone, which could be a pointer to the magnitude of the irregularities in the State.

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