Date:19/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/19/stories/2008051956710400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP to agitate against political killings

Suresh Krishnamoorthy

Focus of agitation to be the four districts of Rayalaseema region

Killings of TDP leaders/cadres since May 2004 has crossed 135: Naidu
‘State accounts for about 60 per cent of political killings in the country’

ANKUSHAPUR (Ranga Reddy Dt.): The Telugu Desam Polit Bureau on Sunday resolved to agitate against the spate of political killings in the State, with focus on the Rayalaseema districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool.

Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement at a briefing after the meeting in this village, located on the Ranga Reddy-Nalgonda district border. Mr. Naidu condemned the killing of party leader Kapatrala Venkatappa Naidu and nine others, terming the “gruesome murders made to look like an accident” and “nothing but a killing by the Government.”

He said the killings of TDP leaders/cadres since May 2004 had crossed 135.

Dubious distinction

Quoting statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau, he said Andhra Pradesh accounted for about 60 per cent of political killings in the country.

“Unless Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy changes his attitude of behaving like a feudal lord, people will oust him in the 2009 elections,” he warned.

Asked about Venkatappa Naidu’s involvement in 42 cases, Mr. Naidu retorted, “We are asking the Congress Government to treat rivals equally.

It is for the party in power to show its fairness by allowing the police to act in a fair manner.”

On the party’s prospects in the byelections, he said it would emerge as the number one party.

“People are fed up of an uncaring Congress that has not kept its pre-poll promises. Voters are sick of yet another election forced on them by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti,” he said.

Charge against YSR

Mr. Naidu charged the Congress with violating every rule in the model code. “While the Chief Minister was allowed to campaign at a meeting in Nizamabad district till 10.35 p.m., officials did not permit my road show in Warangal district.

The Collector would not even take our phone calls,” the TDP president said.

The Polit Bureau discussed the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and the “continued inability” of the State and Centre to control them, farmers’ woes and Government’s “complete” lack of interest on the welfare front.