Date:25/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/25/stories/2008012554750500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Attack pre-planned, says Fariduddin

Staff Reporter

‘TRS activists threw footwear at me’

‘Most of the TRS activists were drunk’
‘Collector was present when the incident took place’

SANGAREDDY: Minister for Cooperation Mohammad Fariduddin addressing a rally organised by the District Congress Committee here on Thursday alleged that the attack on him at Siddipet was deliberate and pre-planned. Narrating his experience the Minister said that most of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti activists were drunk and were waiting for him in the function hall with TRS flags even before he entered the venue. “The TRS supporters threw footwear and stones on me inside the function hall that too in front of the Collector.”

He said that he had participated in a similar meeting at Ramayampet represented by another TRS legislator Padma Devender Reddy before the Siddipet meet and added that the crowd there was calm. “Perhaps they remained that way only to trap me in Siddipet”,” the Minister said. Deploring the attack, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare Mukesh Goud cautioned the people of the region to be aware of the fact that there would be no respect for minorities, Dalits and BCs in the Telangana State as envisioned by the TRS.

“We want a Dalit and minority Telangana and not Telangana of the kings” Mukesh said. Coming heavily on the senior Cong leaders for not protesting “Bury the Congress” rhetoric by K.Chandrasekhar Rao , he alleged that leaders like Madhu Yashki Goud and U. Purushotham Reddy appear to have entered into an agreement with the TRS to defame the party.