The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A planned affair, says Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 15, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A planned affair, says Congress

Staff Reporter

`An attempt to tarnish the image of Congress Government'

'TDP leaders Devender Goud, N. Janardhan Reddy instigated party workers to indulge in violence'
TDP cadre reportedly brought stones, soda bottles to attack RDO office

Naidu trying to create unrest in the State

HYDERABAD: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has said the violence unleashed by the Telugu Desam Party workers in Penukonda during the filing of nomination papers by Paritala Sunita was planned and aimed at tarnishing the image of the Congress Government.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the Government Chief Whip, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, and other MLAs questioned the presence of senior TDP leaders -- T. Devender Goud, Nagam Janardhan Reddy and others in Penukonda on Friday when Ms. Sunita filed her papers. They alleged that the two leaders instigated party workers to indulge in violence.

The CLP members said one set of nomination papers were already filed on behalf of Ms. Sunita on May 11 and on Friday she was supposed to take only the oath in the RDO office. "Where was the need to mobilise party workers in such large numbers when they had assured officials that Ms. Sunita would come in two vehicles and complete the formality?" Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy asked.

"Is it not a fact that the TDP cadre had brought large quantity of stones, cool drink and soda bottles. If they had no intention of creating trouble, where was the need to attack the RDO office?" he wondered. Mr. Reddy wanted to know why the TDP cadre targeted policemen who had been drafted to provide security to Ms. Sunita.

Terming Mr. Naidu a factionalist, he pointed out that ever since he lost power, he was determined to create unrest in the State.

It was high time Mr. Naidu quit as the Leader of the Opposition and as TDP president owning moral responsibility for the Penukonda violence, he said.

Earlier, the CLP members went to Mahatma Gandhi's statue on the Assembly premises and offered prayers for bestowing better sense on Mr. Naidu. The MLAs said in spite of his visiting the Sabarmati ashram recently, Mr. Naidu had not changed his attitude.

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