Paritala: Naidu launches tirade against YSR

It was a day of moves and counter-moves by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and the Andhra Pradesh Congress over the assassination of TDP MLA ...

It was a day of moves and counter-moves by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and the Andhra Pradesh Congress over the assassination of TDP MLA Paritala Ravi.

As Naidu addressed the media in the National Capital and pressed for the removal of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy over the issue, half-an-hour later, Andhra Information Minister Mohammad Ali Shabber addressed the media and alleged that the slain MLA was a criminal and was involved in the killings of several people in Anantapur district. He charged Naidu with the use of murder as a political weapon against Congress.

Naidu, on his part, sought to link the Chief Minister, his father and son with Naxalite activities. He released a 48-page booklet against Reddy titled, If a Factionist becomes Chief Minister — Factionist in Andhra parlance is used for a Naxalite. He listed the killings of 44 TDP members during the YSR regime. Naidu also invoked the Pachmarhi resolution of the Congress to build a case for YSR’s lack of proper credentials to become the chief minister.

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Naidu cited a TV interview by one of Paritala’s assassins and said that it was reflective of the way the state government worked.

The other side was also adequately prepared. Shabber released a well-documented record of Paritala’s crimes alongside photo copies of news reports. He also distributed photos of buses burnt by TDP workers after the killing.

The Andhra Minister also visited the NHRC today, a day before Naidu was slated to go and lodge a complaint against Reddy.

Naidu, who arrived here along with 30 party leaders, met the Vice-President today and has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister for tomorrow.

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Though there is no word on Shabber’s schedule, but looking at today’s developments, he too may be busy planning his counter-moves for tomorrow.