Date:25/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/25/stories/2005022511260400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Yeleru scam: TDP chief told to come clean

By Our Special correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 24. The Congress Legislature Party has challenged the Leader of the Opposition to face the Somasekhara Commission revived by the Government to probe the Yeleru scam boldly and help dig out the truth.

Addressing a press conference, the CLP members -- P. Janardhan Reddy, G. Muddukrishnama Naidu and T. Jeevan Reddy -- said here on Thursday that Mr. Naidu must come clean in the scam.

His running away from it only confirmed the worst fears of his complicity in the matter. The Somasekhara Commission was constituted by the Telugu Desam Government and it was most unfortunate that the TDP leader was casting aspersions on the judges.

The allegation of the TDP that Justice Somasekhara had sought some favour and had become vindictive because Mr. Naidu had refused to oblige him showed the TDP in poor light.

If there was any element of truth in it, he should disclose what the favours were and prove the allegations or else not blackmail the judges, they said.

Mr. Naidu had realised the implications of the completion of the probe and fearing its outcome had now provoked the former Ministers -- Kadiyam Srihari and Ashok Gajapati Raju -- to seek a stay order against the commission, they said. They asked Mr. Naidu to check his statements pointing out that the judiciary was an independent body.