Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has demanded that the State government order a CBI inquiry into the murders of his party leaders in Anantapur district and elsewhere in the State.
“Unless these State-sponsored murders are checked and action is initiated against those responsible, the ruling TDP cadres are going to get even bolder,” Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy said after calling on Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan along with a delegation of party leaders here on Monday. In a memorandum, he requested the Governor to direct the State government to order CBI probe into the murders of YSRCP leaders to bring the culprits to book.
Party leaders Jyothula Nehru, R.K. Roja, P. Ramachandra Reddy, A. Venkatarami Reddy, Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, A. Suresh, Srinivasulu and others accompanied Mr. Janganmohan Reddy to the Governor.
Casting aspersions on the TDP Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that they were misusing official machinery to settle political scores. “We have apprised the Governor of the deteriorating law and order situation in the State and explained how the government offices were becoming havens for killing political rivals”, he said adding that State-sponsored attacks were on the raise, particularly in Anantapur district.
The YSRCP president said eight murders had taken place in Anantapur district alone ever since TDP assumed power. He alleged that the DGP who hails from the same district hobnobs with the TDP leaders who were on the rampage killing the YSRC leaders. He was to retire in two months but was given two years’ extension.
On April 29, YSRC leader of Rapthadu constituency in Anantapur B. Prasada Reddy was murdered in the tehsildar’s office in the presence of revenue officials. The modus operandi of murders was same in many cases wherein the YSRC leaders would be called to offices and murdered, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy said stating that president of PACS Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy of Kistipadu was also killed in similar fashion.
Even before the TDP took over, 17 YSRC leaders were killed and 110 were injured in the attacks by TDP cadres across AP within a month after the declaration of results last year. “I have raised this issue on the floor of the Assembly but the Chief Minister did not consider it an important issue and never bothered to reply”, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy said.
