The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Naidu’s visit to chilli yard turns red

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Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu’s visit to chilli yard turns red

P. Samuel Jonathan

TDP activists, supporters of market yard chairman lock horns

. - Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

Tempers flare: TDP leaders engaged in a scuffle with AMC Chairman L. Appi Reddy on the chilli yard premises in Guntur on Monday

GUNTUR: The visit of Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu to the fire-ravaged chilli yard on Monday turned volatile after supporters of TDP and Agricultural Market Committee Chairman L. Appi Reddy clashed over certain inflammatory remarks made by the TDP leader against the latter.

The situation remained tense for some time with both of the groups sticking to their ground and refusing to relent. When the situation threatened to spin out of control, the police chased away the supporters of both the groups and restored normalcy.

The TDP leader reached Guntur on Monday morning after cutting short his ‘Mee Kosam’ programme in Nalgonda district. He reached the chilli yard premises at about 10 a.m. and began to interact with the farmers, traders and hamalis.

Trouble began when Mr. Naidu levelled personal allegations against the AMC chairman and in general, the State government.

He said that the fire accident was not incidental but was pre-planned and executed with a design to shift the yard from the present premises.

Incensed over Mr. Naidu’s remarks, Appi Reddy along with his followers reached the venue where Mr. Naidu was addressing farmers. Seeing them, the TDP president lost his cool and directed his ire against the policemen asking them to send Mr. Reddy away.

However, the latter refused to budge and said that he had come to clear all the allegations levelled against him.

Clarification

At a press conference in his chambers, Mr. Reddy and former APIIC Chairman Ambati Rambabu charged Mr. Naidu of provoking farmers with inflammatory speeches. “It is below the dignity of the Opposition leader and former Chief Minister to level such baseless allegations,” Mr. Reddy pointed out.

Referring to the allegations made against him, Mr. Reddy said that all these accusations had been made against him earlier during the tenure of the Telugu Desam regime too. And if there was any truth in them, he said, by now ,the Government would have brought him to book.

Ryot’s suicide

Meanwhile, a chilli farmer Ponnam Veera Raghavaiah (48) committed suicide in his farm by consuming pesticide in the aftermath of the fire. An owner of two acres of land, he had taken 5.5 acres on lease and had sown chilli in 4.5 acres. Mr. Naidu visited the General Hospital mortuary to console the farmer’s family. Transport Minister Kanna Lakshmi Narayana and District Collector B. Venkatesham handed over a cheque.

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