AP CM defends beleaguered Cong MP, offers to order probe

Hyderabad, Feb 25 (UNI) Coming to the defence of beleaguered Congress Lok Sabha member V Arunkumar, whose alleged remarks against Dr B R Ambedkar were embroiled in a major controversy, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today offered to hold an inquiry into the incident.

Making an identical statement on the issue in both the Houses of the State Legislature, the Chief Minister said he was ready to order a judicial inquiry or a probe by the statutory State Human Rights Commission or the State SC Commission.

He alleged that the Opposition TDP and a section of the press supporting it were distorting facts to tarnish the image of the Congress and the MP, who had exposed over Rs 3,000 crore financial irregularities of a firm floated by a media baron.

Rejecting the Chief Minister's proposal, the Opposition CPI, CPI(M) and BJP demanded an unconditional apology from the MP. The Chief Minister was sending a wrong message to the Dalits, whose sentiments had been hurt by the MP's remarks.

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