Date:15/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/15/stories/2004071505090400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP wants end to violence

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 14. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today appealed to the President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, to initiate measures to contain political violence in the State against the backdrop of killing of its party workers in Anantapur district and elsewhere. A TDP delegation led by its president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, submitted a memorandum to Dr. Kalam at Raj Bhavan alleging that ever since the new Government assumed charge, faction leaders of the Congress had started `terrorising' TDP workers in the State. So far, 15 partymen had been murdered, including six in Anantapur, and 34 seriously injured.

Giving details of the incidents of political violence in 98 villages, they said many of these aimed at striking a blow to the economic condition of TDP workers. When the TDP drew the attention of Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, he had given `a casual and perfunctory reply' saying the law would take its own course. Even in the Assembly, the Government had not shown a semblance of a democratic response.