Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Expel leaders with criminal record, Congress, TDP told

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, SEPT. 13. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are of the opinion that factionalism and violence in Rayalaseema will end only if the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party make sincere efforts in keeping politicians with criminal background away from their ranks.

The State leaders of the two parties expressed their opinion at separate press meets here on Monday. They also blamed police failure as one of the reasons for the recent killings in Anantapur district.

Ruling party cautioned

Parties concerned should extradite leaders with criminal and factional background, the former Union Minster, Bandaru Dattatreya, said, adding that it was the only solution to contain violence in Rayalaseema. He, however, cautioned that any ruling party should not give an impression that it was encouraging violence. The party in power should observe restraint, he said.

Asked whether the State Government was encouraging the killings, he replied in the negative. Past violence is the main culprit. Criminal forces take shelter with parties in power to settle their scores with rivals," he said.

He said peace was a must for the development of Rayalaseema.

Meanwhile, the State deputy secretary of CPI, K. Narayana, remarked that the Congress and TDP were following the policy of "removing a thorn with a thorn."

TDP has no moral right

He termed the recent violence in Anantapur district as retaliatory killings. Stating that the TDP had no moral right to seek security for its leaders with criminal past, he said such persons should be kept away from active politics including elections. Coming down on the police for its alleged dubious role in the Anantapur killings, he said the killings were a clear indication of police failure.

He sought action against the police officers facing charges of prejudice.

Peace rally

He also favoured an all-party peace rally led by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to infuse confidence among people.

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