Congress, Cabinet defends CM on clemency issue

Hyderabad, Oct 16 (UNI) Defending Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, whose resignation was demanded in the wake of the Supreme Court's observations in the Gouru Venkat Reddy clemency case, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of trying to gain 'political mileage from the issue.

Addressing a joint press conference at the CLP office here, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Lift Irrigation Minister M Mareppa claimed that the Apex Court did not indict the Chief Minister or the government in the clemency case.

They maintained that the Supreme Court had only observed 'procedural lapses'and not found fault with the state Government in its 59-page judgement. The Congress party and the state cabinet extended full support to the Chief Minister, who was taking all decisions in a transparent manner, they added.

They said they had written an open letter to former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the irregularities committed by the previous TDP Government. Mr Naidu had no right to demand the Chief Minister's resignation after withdrawing 1500 criminal cases against ministers, MLAs and other TDP leaders when he was in power, they added.

They alleged that the TDP's main agenda was to resort to mudsligning on the Chief Minister and the Congress government as it had initiated several developmental projects in the state. The people have faith in the Chief Minister, the Minister said.

They claimed that the TDP had no issues to go before the people and was trying to use the clemency issue before the coming by-elections for Karimnagar and Bobbili Lok Sabha seats.

The people, who had taught a good lesson to the TDP, including Muncipal, Cooperative and Local Body elections during the last two-and-half years, would not believe the 'false' propaganda by the TDP, they added.

In a bid to divert the people's attention from developmental projects, the TDP had been demanding the Chief Minister's resignation for each and everything since May 2004, they claimed.

UNI BR/SM AK GC1928