The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : BJP leader attempts suicide over job scam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

BJP leader attempts suicide over job scam

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, SEPT. 27. The State executive member and former district president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Potturi Venkata Ramanappa, attempted suicide at Pampanur village in Atmakur mandal last evening by consuming pesticide. He had reportedly developed differences with some party leaders over the alleged collection of money from unemployed youths, promising them jobs in a cement unit near Tadipatri.

He was noticed by villagers in a semi-conscious condition and was rushed to a private hospital, where his condition was stated to be out of danger. Party leaders in the district declined comment.

`Security deposit'

A few BJP leaders of the district, with the help of a contractor who had worked for the cement company, had allegedly collected money from many unemployed youth of Anantapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah, Nellore, Nalgonda and Hyderabad before this year's election, promising them appointment letters by mid-September. Amounts ranging from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000 were reportedly collected as `security deposit.''

The youths apparently fell for the ploy since a couple of relatives of two BJP leaders were given jobs in the cement unit before the `collection campaign.' But, when it became clear that there would be no jobs, part of the amount was said to have been returned to some of them.

Most of the youngsters were from Kalyandrug, where a BJP woman leader had allegedly collected the amount. However, the police have not received any complaint so far. The father of a youngster said a few mediators had promised to return some amount if they remained silent on the issue.

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