Date:27/11/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/11/27/stories/2003112705680400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

CPI for probe into charge against TDP leaders

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR NOV. 26. The Communist Party of India has demanded a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the alleged supply of arms and money to the People's War naxalites by the ruling TDP leaders in Anantapur district. The party also demanded action against such leaders if they are found guilty.

Talking to newspersons here today, the district secretary of the party, M.V. Ramana, and the State committee secretariat member, K. Ramakrishna, said that the issue of supply of arms and money by the former legislator from Penukonda, Paritala Ravindra, and others to the People's War naxalites was reported to the Government by the intelligence wing of the police and it was not a politically-motivated allegation.

At a time when the ruling party had decided to make the issue of extremism in the State the main issue for the coming Assembly elections after the People's War attack on the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, in October it had become very much appropriate to order a probe into the allegations. Besides, the TDP is also asking the people to give a fresh mandate in their favour to fight extremism.

In a Cabinet meeting after the naxalite attack on the Chief Minister, the Health Minister, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, is learnt to have stated that the Congress leaders had a nexus with the People's War naxalites who had attacked the former. The truth would come out if a probe was ordered into the whole issue, the CPI leaders said. Commenting on the TDP leaders' seeking proof for the allegations, the CPI leaders said they had no right to ask for proof as they had been in power till recently and they could well order a probe to bring out the truth.