The Hindu : A black day, says Naidu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

A black day, says Naidu

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD March 22. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has strongly condemned the violence by the Congress in the Assembly lobbies on Saturday and termed it a `black day' in the history of democracy.

Expressing shock at the incident, Mr. Naidu later told the House that he had never imagined the Congress led by their leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, would `murder' democracy this way. "I don't know how he (Dr. Reddy) will react if he gets emotional,'' he said.

Mr. Naidu said Dr. Reddy had `personally' attacked his chamber in the lobbies. "Look at my position, as a person who was responsible for maintenance of law and order throughout the State, I have myself come under attack,'' he remarked.

The Chief Minister said he would not get provoked by such incidents and appealed to his party MLAs to maintain cool. Maintaining a dignified behaviour was the best way to cool frayed tempers, he added.

Stating that the attack was premeditated, Mr. Naidu said it was undertaken to disturb the proceedings of the Assembly when a good subject like the launching of Jala Chaitanyam to address the water problem of farmers was discussed. The attack was launched without any provocation.

Mr. Naidu maintained that the Revenue Minister, P. Ashokagajapathi Raju, was chased by Congress MLAs as he was going to toilet and the Commercial Taxes Minister, K. Vijayarama Rao, had to return to the House seeing the hostile MLAs when he wanted to go outside. If this was so, the fears of women MLAs could well be imaged.

Going into the antecedents of the incident, Mr. Naidu said Dr. Reddy had met him in his chambers in the Assembly the other day along with 10 or 12 Congress MLAs and given him a letter to inquire into his properties. On being told that the issue was discussed in the House and there was no need to rake it up again, they left. "And today this incident,'' he said adding that he did not know what kind of inquiry could be instituted against Dr. Reddy.

Calling for a dignified behaviour by men in public life, Mr. Naidu said they could ill-afford to have personal animosities. It was not good to terrorise people.

Mr. Naidu said there were several ways to express resentment in a democracy. Their grouse could have been discussed in the House if the MLAs felt the Government was trying to `settle scores' with the Congress.

The sentiments of Mr. Naidu were echoed by several MLAs who spoke ahead of him. Y. Narayanaswamy (TDP) said the incident was condemnable by a civic society. P. Brahmaiah (TDP) said it exposed the goondaism of the Congress which was insulting. Kota Srinivasa Rao (BJP) said he had acted as villain in several films but what he saw today eclipsed everything. Della Godfrey (nominated) demanded an unconditional apology by the Congress to the Speaker.

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