Clashes: Opposition for probe into ‘conspiracy'

Opposition parties have demanded the government to order a thorough inquiry into the sudden outbreak of clashes in the old city to bring out facts pertaining to the conspiracy theory being aired by a section of Congress leaders.

They want the government to depute senior police officials with a track record of unbiased discharge of duties for ensuring that normalcy returns in the trouble-hit areas. A meeting of floor leaders of all parties and senior police officials led by Director-General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar convened by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah witnessed heated exchanges between representatives of the Congress and the opposition parties on Tuesday.

Support to government

Opposition leaders assured their full support to the measures initiated by the government in restoring calm in the city. They wanted the government to order a probe to ascertain who was behind the alleged ‘pre-planned attacks' as well as the sources from which they were receiving funds.

Ministers P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, D. Nagender and Ahmedullah, Government Chief Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, TDP members N. Janardhan Reddy, Motkupalli Narsimhulu and D. Veerabhadra Rao, Praja Rajyam's Shoba Nagi Reddy and Bandaru Satyananda Rao, Akbaruddin Owaisi and Mumtaz Ahmed Khan of the MIM, G. Mallesh (CPI), J. Ranga Reddy (CPI-M), G. Kishan Reddy (BJP) and Jayaprakash Narayan (Lok Satta Party) were among others who attended the meeting.

The opposition leaders were particularly serious over the different reasons being attributed by a section of Congress leaders and wanted the Chief Minister to rein in his party men. They were one in criticising the Congress leaders for airing divergent views on the clashes as it was further complicating the situation. “What kind of signal will the controversial remarks being made by the Congress leaders send to the people?” Mr. Ranga Reddy said.

The Chief Minister is learnt to have told them that he would take the matter to the notice of the party high command and ask the leadership to restrain the party MPs, MLAs and other leaders from making such provocative remarks.

The meeting, it is learnt, witnessed debate between the BJP legislator G. Kishan Reddy and the MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi.