Balayogi dinner row: WWF for inquiry by NGO

HYDERABAD, Nov 12: The World Wildlife Fund WWF, an international voluntary organisation, has sought an inquiry by a non-government organis...

HYDERABAD, Nov 12: The World Wildlife Fund WWF, an international voluntary organisation, has sought an inquiry by a non-government organisation NGO into the controversial dinner hosted in Khammam district of Andrha Pradesh on October 13 where the meat of endangered species was allegedly served.

WWF India director Kamal Naidu in a letter to principal chief conservator of forests, said a resolution expressing 8220;deep anguish8221; at the incident was adopted in an emergency meeting of the organisation held on November 11 and urged for a high-level inquiry by NGOs to examine the veracity of charges, WWF spokesman said.

The resolution also recommended punitive action against those guilty, he said, adding the WWF director had urged officials to keep it informed about the developments to enable the national secretariat at Delhi and international secretariat at Switzerland be posted of the information.

NTR-TDP president Lakshmi Parvathi and State Congress leaders had reiterated their demand of taking sternaction against those involved in the controversy and urged the chief minister to drop all the ministers who attended the feast.

Meanwhile, K V Satyanarayana, who hosted the dinner surrendered before forest officials yesterday. He was produced before a magistrate who remanded him to police custody, official sources said.

In yet another development, former APCC president V Hanumantha Rao urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to order a CBI probe into the dinner issue.

Speaking to newsmen at Vijayawada Hanumantha Rao alleged that the dinner was hosted in honour of Major Irrigation Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao at Marlakuna village in Khammam district where five state ministers including Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi were present.

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8220;A top-film star Salman Khan was arrested for hunting the endangered species while people holding highest position were let free when they ate the meat of the wild animals,8221; he said.

He alleged that the state government8217;s order of inquiry into the issue was an 8220;eyewash8221; as the inquiry was be conducted by the state forest officials.

In a related development, the state CPI and CPI-M have also joined the issue with the main Opposition Congress, demanding a high-level 8220;impartial8221; inquiry into feast.

The coordination committee meeting of the Left parties, former allies of TDP, held here last night took a serious view of the Khammam incident. The committee favoured an 8220;impartial and high-level inquiry into the entire episode,8221; the Left party leaders told newsmen here.

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The state CPI secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said witnesses including journalists willing to disclose facts relating to the controversial feast should not be harassed or intimidated as reported in a section of press and be given full protection by the government.

It is for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to dismiss the ministers in question, he said in reply to a query.

State CPI-M leader B V Raghavulu also demanded an impartial probe into the matter. The government should come clean on the issue,he said.