Srikakulam: "We (politicians) have a tendency to play to the gallery in the presence of the media. That is why I want to brief the press after the review is over. This is the procedure I have been following."

This was how Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy justified his decision of not permitting the media at the review meeting held here on Sunday. The Chief Minister promised to field all questions at the media briefing later. Following this decision, media persons, except photographers who were permitted to remain for some time, came out of the meeting hall.

A few minutes later, TDP leaders, who included Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu, MP and party leader in the Lok Sabha, Kimidi Kalavenkata Rao, TDLP leader, and Kalamata Mohana Rao, G. Shyamsundar Shivaji, Kinjarapu Acheyya Naidu and Kambala Jogulu, all MLAs, trooped out of the review meeting, protesting against the decision of the Chief Minister.

Dig at Chief Minister

Speaking to newsmen outside the venue and later at the TDP office, where district unit president Tammineni Sitaram joined, Mr. Yerrannaidu and Mr. Venkata Rao mounted a scathing attack on the Chief Minister for trying to muzzle the media.

`Meet lacks sanctity'

"We promised to cooperate with the Chief Minister and confine to issues concerning people and requested him to call the media to the meeting. But the Chief Minister was adamant. We came out to register our protest," they said. "What is the sanctity and usefulness of the review in the absence of the Opposition and the media?" Mr. Yerrannaidu asked.

"We came to bring to the notice of the Chief Minister various issues concerning people and the irregularities in the execution of various schemes. We came with documentary proof," he said.

"Is the Chief Minister trying to shield the irregularities of officials and failure of his Government?" he asked.

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