Date:19/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/19/stories/2007081952630300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

MLA joins issue with TDP

Correspondent

Protest orchestrated, he says

Kakinada: Congress MLA Dommeti Venkateswerlu has expressed anguish over campaign launched against him by the local TDP leaders reportedly instigating the local women spreading canards.

Blames TDP MLA

At a press conference here on Saturday, he said that he neither hurled abuses against women nor tore the cheque meant for distribution among beneficiaries of Indira Kranti Patham at the meeting held in Korangi a couple of days ago as alleged by the TDP leaders.

He alleged that the TDP former MLA was behind the dharna staged by women, in front of the Thallarevu MROs office on Friday.

“The so-called outburst incident pertains to Korangi village where I have distributed cheques to woman SHG members towards bridge loans and Indira kranti Patham cheques distribution was not listed in the function.

Allegation ‘baseless’

But a community volunteer put pressure on me for presenting the economic benefits to the Indira kranti Patham beneficiaries out of the way.

I admonished him for the undue hurry and threw the document given to me.

But I did not tear the cheque as alleged.

Moreover there were no women present at the meeting as such the question of hurling abuses against women did not arise,” he clarified.

Challenge to TDP

The MLA offered to quit politics if the TDP leaders prove the allegation against him and even prepared for any punishment.