The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : `Several TDP leaders under threat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

`Several TDP leaders under threat'

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, SEPT. 29. Paritala Ravindra has alleged that several key TDP leaders of the district, including himself, have been facing threat to their lives from Congress leaders, particularly from his constituency, "actively helped by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and his son, Jaganmohan Reddy.

Addressing a press conference at his house of Venkatapuram village of Ramagiri mandal on Wednesday, he said the killing of 16 TDP leaders and activists in less than five months of Congress rule was a clear indication of impending danger to himself and a few other key leaders of the party. He sought to know the rationale behind searching his houses repeatedly like those of criminals.

Mr. Ravindra alleged that search of his houses was being done at the behest of the Chief Minister as part of the Congress plans to "victimise'' him. Such an exercise was also aimed at creating a terror in TDP ranks and demoralise them, he alleged.

`Inquest not held'

On the seizure of `blood-stained' clothes from his house at Venkatapuram, the TDP leader said they were his clothes given to one of his workers, Narayana, and were kept in the bedroom by other workers to tease him. The stains on the clothes were marks of rust, he explained. He alleged that the clothes were seized without inquest.

On the articles seized at his Anantapur residence, Mr. Ravindra said nothing of them was incriminating or illegal.

He alleged that the Congress leaders -- N. Raghuveera Reddy (Minister) and B. Narayana Reddy (MLA) -- had spoken in support of killers of TDP leaders.

He said the Chief Minister had not even chided Congressmen of Anantapur for the killings.

Mr. Ravindra alleged that the Jana Rakshana Samiti was the new `avatar' of Congress-backed pseudo naxalite group Red Star aimed at eliminating TDP leaders.

He said the police were protecting criminal elements in the Congress.

On the cases of abduction registered against him he said one should not be surprised even if he was booked on such charges even in the Cuddapah and Pulivendula areas in the coming days.

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Andhra Pradesh