Andhra Pradesh

TD’s condition for probe into assets

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party has made it clear that it will accept judicial inquiry into assets of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and its president N. Chandrababu Naidu only if it is headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Addressing a hurriedly called press conference on Friday, senior party leader T. Devender Goud said the terms of reference of such an inquiry should be decided at an all-party meeting and not by the Chief Minister.

To a question, he said he was confident of the apex court or the High Court sparing a sitting judge if the State government convinced them about the importance of the case. He pointed out that the challenge was thrown by the Chief Minister himself and he had volunteered to face the inquiry.

The decision on whether or not to press for Dr. Reddy’s resignation would be taken later.

He said the party was insisting on sitting judge as only serving judge could do justice. If the government went ahead appointing a retired judge for the inquiry, it would be a colossal waste and eyewash.

The TDP favoured all party leaders to decide upon the terms of reference and the time frame to ensure that the government did not turn it a tailor made affair to obtain a clean chit.

Responding to another question, Mr. Goud said there could be similar inquiry into the assets of all MLAs.

He reiterated that the party had all the evidence to prove corruption at the highest level in the government. Beginning with Jalayagnam to allotment of lands around Hyderabad, almost everything reeked of corruption.

Party’s leader in the Legislative Council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao said a State-wide agitation would be launched on October 15 demanding Rs. 1000 per quintal as minimum support price for paddy.

Eraballi Dayakar Rao, secretary of the TDP Legislative Party, challenged Irrigation Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah to accompany him to Devadula project to see the sub-standard works.

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