The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Sparks fly over TDP activist's murder

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Sparks fly over TDP activist's murder

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC.10. Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Assembly on Friday after a Telugu Desam member demanded the resignation of the Panchayat Raj Minister, J.C. Diwakar Reddy, over the murder of a TDP activist in Anantapur district on Thursday.

Raising the issue, H.C. Govindappa (TDP), alleged that a party follower was murdered for "political reasons" and wanted Mr. Reddy to step down owning "moral responsibility." His remarks drew a chorus of protest from treasury benches, even as the Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, pulled him up, saying he should give prior notice before making any charge against another member. A few TDP members waved placards.

Plea to Chair

The senior Congress member, G. Venkata Reddy, claimed that baseless allegations were being frequently levelled against the Ministers and Congress MLAs. He wanted the Chair to take action.

Asking members of all parties to observe restraint, the Speaker told them not to compel him to take action for ensuring "smooth functioning" of the House.

The Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said that his party had raised the issue of political murders in the House and organised agitations outside. "Will we not experience anguish when our workers are killed every day?" he asked. He criticised Mr. Diwakar Reddy for being "non-serious," wondering "what message we are sending."

The Speaker told Mr. Naidu that only one member from each party was entitled for a zero hour mention and advised him to raise the issue under a different rule.

The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, promised that he would make a statement on the incident tomorrow and said firm action would be taken against the culprits.

Gram sevaks issue

In his zero hour mention, J. Ranga Reddy (CPI(M)), urged the Government to redress the grievance of gram sevaks who took out a rally in the city today. The Revenue Minister, D. Prasada Rao, assured that the demands would be sympathetically examined.

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