The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Faction leaders bury the hatchet in YSR's presence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Faction leaders bury the hatchet in YSR's presence

By Our Staff Reporter

The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is all smiles as B. Pardhasaradhi Reddy (centre) and the Panyam MLA, K. Rambhoopal Reddy, buried their differences in his presence in Hyderabad on Friday. — Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD, JUNE 12. In a historic move, two bitter factionists of the feud-torn Rayalaseema region, Telugu Desam's Bejjem Pardhasaradhi Reddy and Congress legislator from Panyam, Katasani Rambhoopal Reddy bid adieu to their internecine wars in Kurnool district and joined hands in the presence of the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, here on Friday night.

Describing it as a welcome move, the Chief Minister called for an end to factionalism in the Rayalaseema region and made a fervent plea to all factionists to bring the curtains down on the violent era that took the lives of hundreds of people. "Enough blood has flown and enough suffering has been passed on to the people. It is time peace came back to the blood drenched killing fields of Rayalaseema," the man who himself hails from the faction-ridden Pulivendula region of Cuddapah district said in a pensive tone even as old foes, Pardhasaradhi Reddy and Rambhoopal Reddy shook hands and ended their 40-year-old group wars.

Saying efforts to wean away factionists from their violent ways were on for a long time, the Chief Minister said he would not hesitate to personally visit the faction-ridden villages to motivate people to give up their old ways. "We will provide an opportunity to all factionists who would like to end their hostilities," he said.

Joining Congress?

When Mr. Bejjem Pardhasaradhi Reddy, prodded by the Panyam sitting MLA, Mr. Rambhoopal Reddy, evinced interest in joining the Congress, the Chief Minister straightaway welcomed him into his party fold. Quizzed by mediapersons about his foray into Congress, Mr. Reddy said he would come out with an `appropriate announcement at an appropriate time'.

Mr. Rambhoopal Reddy defeated Mr. Pardhasaradhi Reddy in the recent Assembly elections from the Panyam Assembly segment.

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