The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Concern over ‘political persecution’ in Pulivendula

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Saturday, Feb 14, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Concern over ‘political persecution’ in Pulivendula

Special Correspondent

— Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Sharing views: Brigitte Langenhagen, former member of European Parliament, and Fiona O’Malley, Member of Parliament, Ireland, addressing the media in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: The two European delegates, who toured Kadapa district and Pulivendula constituency, as independent observers to assess functioning of democratic system and election process said they were concerned with ‘political persecution and fear psychosis’ prevailing among some sections of people.

Senator Fiona O’Malley from Ireland and Brigitte Langenhagen, former member of European Parliament, Germany, who came to Pulivendula as independent observers at the invitation of Palem Srikanth Reddy, president, Society for Influential Persons on Political Systems (SIPOPS), shared their views here on Friday.

The delegates who toured several villages in Kadapa for four days said people though were hesitant initially did open up and shared their experiences.

“It gave us an insight how the system works. How one group is in total dominance and how people supporting opposition parties were discriminated against. No democracy should put up with such situations as people may not be able to exercise their franchise freely,” they said. “Women who lost their men in political violence were in distress and said no action was taken even after years. It appears that police lacked independence to act as per law,” they added. The delegates would submit their report to Union Government and Central Election Commission.

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