CLP condemns TDP charge against Govt on Venkatappa murder

Hyderabad, May 20 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today strongly condemned the allegations of Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu that the State Government and the ruling Congress were ''involved'' in the murder of TDP leader and factionist P Venkatappa Naidu and others in Kurnool on May 17.

Addressing a press conference here along with legislators Sailajanath and K Durgesh, Government Chief Whip N Kiran Kumar Reddy said the TDP leader was making baseless allegations against the Government and Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to gain political mileage.

Stating that there was no need for the Congress and the Government to encourage factionalism in the State, he said Dr Reddy was striving hard to eradicate factionalism.

Mr Reddy alleged that a factional feud had been going on at Kappatralla village since 1970 and deceased Venkatappa Naidu's group had killed 20 of their opponents in such clashes. There were eight murder cases and an attempt to murder case pending against Venkatappa Naidu.

The TDP was trying to politicise every incident in the State and their main agenda was to indulge in mud-slinging campaigns against the Congress Government and the Chief Minister, he claimed.

Claiming that Mr Naidu had encouraged factionalism in the State during his nine-year rule, Mr Reddy alleged that Mr Naidu had shielded those involved in the murder of Y S Raja Reddy, father of Dr Rajasekhara Reddy.

He urged the State Government to take necessary steps to ensure that such incidents did not recur and take stern action against those involved in the murder.

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