Date:21/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042153240300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ashok lashes out at officials

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: TDP Polit Bureau member P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju came down heavily on Collector and Superintendent of Police for toeing the line of ministers instead of discharging duties as per the Constitution and legislations.

He was speaking at the birthday celebrations of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu at party office here on Sunday.

He said that officials were acting as stooges of the government. Mr. Ashok said that police had arrested 11 of the party office-bearers by “twisting the law” for staging a dharna peacefully at the Collector’s Office in June last year against spiralling prices of essential commodities.

The hearing of the case in the District Court is on Monday. Such intimidation tactics would not cow them down and they would organise similar protests in the interests of people in future too.

Plans rally

He said that a massive rally from fort and dharna at Collector’s Office was planned on April 25 against the price rise. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had on the eve of Assembly elections promised to allocate Rs. 500 crores for controlling prices but there was no mention of it during the last four budgets, he added.

Earlier, he cut a cake to mark the birthday celebrations of his party chief. The party district president Y. Ramana Murty and others were present.