Date:04/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020406610400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Government stands exposed: TDP

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 3. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Thursday said the Congress Government has exposed itself by sending Ministers and party leaders to New Delhi on the issue of Paritala Ravi murder case.

"If anything, the Congress Government's decision to go to Delhi reflects its fear and the deteriorating law and order situation in the State. They were concerned more about the political fall-out of such a situation," a senior TDP leader, T. Seetharam, told presspersons here.

"Otherwise there was no reason for them to follow the TDP delegation and counter it. It appeared as if Congress was an affected party and not TDP."

Gimmicks

He said such gimmicks by the Congress leaders would not work as people were watching them with disgust.

The TDP was justified in knocking the doors of the high constitutional authorities as their earlier attempts fell on deaf ears with the "Government sponsored murder"of Ravi.

The party wanted to remind the same authorities, how the Government had acted brazenly in eliminating a legislator, he said.

"It could do the same to other TDP leaders, as is clear from the way 44 partymen were eliminated during the last nine months. Moreover, people were in a state of fear and insecurity."

He said the party could not match the Congress in resorting to "murder politics" and hence chose the democratic way of protest and submission of memoranda to the authorities.