The Hindu : Cong. for prosecution of former Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 07, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Cong. for prosecution of former Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD SEPT. 6. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, have launched an offensive against the Telugu Desam Party and demanded that the Chief Minister take stern action against other corrupt leaders also.

Launching a tirade against TDP leaders and the former Minister, P. Srinivas Reddy, the District Congress Committee and the Telangana Rastra Samiti demanded that the Government view with seriousness the stationery scandal and take severe action against the guilty. At the same time, they wanted severe action against other corrupt leaders also.

Opposition parties reacted sharply to the resignation of the former Minister. They maintained that mere resignation owning moral responsibility for the alleged scam was not enough. They wanted judicial probe and criminal prosecution of the accused. TDP leaders, however, did not react to the sudden change in the political scenario. They were yet to come to grips with the unexpected blow the party had suffered in the district.

The DCC demanded that the State Government order a judicial probe into the scam and prosecute Mr. Srinivas Reddy, his son-in-law and other officials of the Panchayat Raj Department for their alleged involvement in the scandal.

The DCC general secretary, P. Rajeswar Reddy and the PCC Legal Cell convener, I. Gopal Sharma, said the former Minister, who only yesterday claimed that neither he nor his relatives indulged in corruption, should prove his innocence in the court. The Congress demanded a probe into the assets accumulated by Mr. Srinivas Reddy. The tall claims of the former Minister about his clean image had been exposed, they added.

They wondered why no criminal action was taken against the former Minister's son-in-law, when he had allegedly threatened some officials at Kurnool. They reminded that the DCC president, S. Gangaram, had been alleging that large-scale irregularities were taking place in the PR Department for the last four months and accused the Minister of his involvement.

However, TDP leaders ridiculed Mr. Gangaram and charged him of levelling false allegations. They advised TDP leaders and followers to at least realise now the corrupt activities of their leaders. They demanded that the Chief Minister take action against other tainted Ministers also and show his sincerity.

The Telangana Rastra Samiti district president, A.S. Poshetty, said the former Minister should realise at least now the importance of the struggle for Telangana. He said Telangana leaders were being sidelined in a systematic way. He accused the Minister of targeting TRS cadres and leaders.

TDP leaders and close followers of the former Minister were yet to recover from the shock. Mr. Srinivas Reddy had a large following in Banswada, Bodhan and Jukkal constituencies.

Even during the last local body elections, when the party was facing rout in all other constituencies, it was Mr. Srinivas Reddy's efforts that ensured the victory of his party candidates in the three constituencies. TDP leaders of Banswada alleged that a systematic attempt was being made to corner Mr. Srinivas Reddy and bring disrepute to his credibility.

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Cong. for prosecution of former Minister