The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu has demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation be asked to probe the death of former Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao.
The TDP president described the former Speaker’s death as “murder” committed by the AP government and said there was need for debate across the State and country on the vindictive policies being adopted by YSRCP government led by Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Kodela took the extreme step following the “humiliation meted out by the government,” he added.
“He was humiliated psychologically, physically and financially by the government which registered petty cases against him,” Mr. Naidu said. He recalled that Kodela had addressed a letter on June 20 to the A.P. Assembly Speaker and Legislature Secretary asking them to finalise the cost of furniture that was used in his camp office. But an FIR was registered by the police two days later on the basis of a complaint filed by Narasaraopet MLA G. Srinivas Reddy.
This was followed by filing of 19 cases, including those related to extortion, forgery and SC/ST (prevention of atrocities). “The present government headed by a man who is facing 11 CBI cases is trying to terrorise the TDP leaders and cadre,” he alleged. He charged that the police machinery had “ surrendered” itself to the whims of the Chief Minister and the ruling party leaders and was humiliating the Opposition parties. In this context, he recalled how the Andhra Pradesh BJP president was not allowed to go to Gurazala where the party had planned a meeting recently.
“This government has gone beyond the term terrorist. There is no logic in its actions. This is a fit case to study how people can be harassed,” he said. Mr. Naidu said Kodela, a five-time MLA who held various portfolios, including the first Speaker of the Assembly, was a strong-willed man. But, he was made to take to the extreme step unable to bear the “harassment by the government”.
“Cases under Section 409 of the IPC (criminal breach of trust) have been registered against Kodela over petty issues,” he said adding Kodela’s advocates who approached the police seeking station bail were ill-treated.
He questioned the motives behind the government’s actions such as cancellation of power purchase agreements and stoppage of works on the construction of the capital Amaravati and said they clearly exposed the “vindictive attitude” of Mr. Jagan. “I had seen 11 Chief Ministers, but none like Mr. Jagan,” he said.
BJP also calls for probe
Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy on Tuesday demanded that the AP government conduct a thorough probe into the death of Kodela Sivaprasada Rao. “His suicide is a sad development and should not happen in any political family. I will also talk to the DGP there and get a report on the incident,” he said.
The Union Minister also advised the government not to put shackles on the media. It was not good for the government to put restrictions on a few television channels. Later, a delegation of Telugu Desam Party leaders led by TS president L. Ramana, Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy and others met Mr. Reddy and complained about the “high handedness” of the YSRCP government which led to the death of the ex-speaker. They demanded a CBI probe into the episode as foisting of false cases and harassment of the former speaker has led to the suicide.
