Date:16/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/stories/2007101650150100.htm

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CM throws ball into Naidu’s court

Cautions TDP chief not to cross ‘Lakshman Rekha’ on probe issue

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy tossed the ball into the court of Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu on the question whether a sitting or a retired judge should be appointed to inquire into their respective wealth.

The Chief Minister virtually ruled out a probe by sitting judge citing a recent Supreme Court judgment that said “no sitting judge will be spared” for commissions except in rarest of rare cases involving paramount national interest and the message conveyed by the High Court regarding paucity of judges. “It is now for Mr. Naidu to decide,” he said. Replying to queries at a press conference here on Monday, Dr. Reddy replied in the negative when asked whether the Government would still write to the High Court to spare a judge for the inquiry. “This is not a child’s play. We are running a responsible Government.”

Describing Mr. Naidu as a “true example of Machiavellian character”, the Chief Minister said it was expected that Mr. Naidu would gracefully accept the probe following his recent assertion at Warangal, but the latter’s stand was “true to his colours”. “I call upon the TDP president not to cross the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ or else people will lose respect for democracy,” he said.

Lashing out at the TDP president for his alleged double talk, he said Mr. Naidu initially expressed willingness for any kind of probe but subsequently insisted on probe by a sitting judge. “The demand for sitting judge is tantamount to backtracking by Mr. Naidu,” he added.

Though the Government was not under obligation to consult anybody on instituting an inquiry, he was prepared to show “extra privilege” to Mr. Naidu to pre-empt any “tactics” that the TDP may adopt to “boycott” the probe. Though the “reckless” allegations were devoid of truth, he had decided to order a probe to call the bluff of Mr. Naidu who “incidentally amassed huge wealth”, he added.

Asked whether there would be any inquiry at all, he said “it depends on Mr. Naidu’s response”.