AP Police firing: Congress rejects demand for YSR resignation

New Delhi, July 30 (UNI) The Congress today rejected the demand for the resignation of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for the police firing in which six people were killed in Khammam, and said "the sensitive and prompt response of the administration belies any allegation of high-handedness." "Every such issue is not an occasion for resignation...We are in for constructive and concrete action," AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons when his attention was drawn to the stern warning of the Left parties which asked the Congress leadership to "rein in" the Chief Minister.

While stating that the incident was "most unfortunate," he said there was no meaning in allocating the blame.

In this context, Dr Singhvi said that "it is important to note that the Andhra Pradesh government had acted swiftly and sensitively as compared to several other incidents in different parts of the country." He said the Congress-led government in Andhra Pradesh had taken quick action on supposedly errant policemen, extended quick relief to the affected people, ordered a judicial inquiry into the police firing and subsequent violence in which two people were killed and took measures to calm down the tense atmosphere.

"It is incumbent on all political parties to work towards providing a healing touch and finding a lasting solution to the long term issues," he said.

Asked if Mr Reddy had been giving headache to the party through his recent actions which strained the relationship with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and now sought to create a disquiet in the relationship with the Left parties, Dr Singhvi said "It is unfair to link the unlinkables and connect the unconnectibles." UNI