Date:25/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/25/stories/2006012506850400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Court indictment: Buta's action widely condemned

Staff Reporter

Congress asked to own up responsibility for Supreme Court's indictment of Governor Buta Singh

Buta Singh's resignation demanded

Congress charged with making mockery of the Constitution

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party has asked the Congress party at the Centre to own up the moral responsibility for the Supreme Court's indictment of Bihar Governor Buta Singh for dissolving the Assembly in an unconstitutional manner and take immediate remedial measures.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, R. Chandrasekhara Reddy, TDP MP, and T.D. Janardhan Rao, MP and secretary, said that the Congress must secure resignation of the Governor and others responsible for dissolving the House arbitrarily. This was the way out for any Government that had respect for democracy, they said.

An eye opener

Mr. Reddy said the judgment should also serve as an eye-opener for the Congress, which was making a mockery of democracy and was known for converting Raj Bhavans into party offices. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister K. Shivraj Patil and the Congress-led Government, should own up responsibility in the matter, he said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president N. Indrasena Reddy criticised Mr. Buta Singh for his main role as also the Prime Minister and AICC president Sonia Gandhi for going along with him. He demanded their resignation and dismissal of the Governor.

The party's national secretary B. Dattatreya wanted the Prime Minister to resign.