Security made Sonia scurry

HYDERABAD, AUG 19: APCC president Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has cited security reasons for the secrecy maintained over the constituency from w...

HYDERABAD, AUG 19: APCC president Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has cited security reasons for the secrecy maintained over the constituency from where Congress president Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination.

Speaking to newsmen here today, Reddy said that the State governments in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka were 8220;inefficient and not capable of providing sufficient security cover to Sonia even at 24 hours notice.8221;

According to him, it was decided on August 17 itself that Sonia would file her nomination from Bellary. But, the SPG personnel insisted that the destination should not be disclosed till the departure of the flight, he claimed.

Sonia reached Hyderabad on Tuesday night to file her nomination but till the next morning, Congress leaders did not disclose whether she would go to Cuddapah or Bellary. On the other hand, they clearly indicated that she would file the papers from Cuddapah while Sonia actually went to Bellary.

8220;We were forced to mislead the media and others only for security purposes andnothing else. It is not that we were afraid about the rival candidate,8221; he said.

When a reporter asked if the Congress felt that there was a threat to Sonia8217;s life from the State government ruling party too, Rajasekhar paused for a while before remarking that, 8220;these people can go to any extent. The head of the government here can stoop to any level and does not have any morals.8221;

The PCC president justified the Congress decision to offer Miryalguda Lok Sabha seat to Janata Dal leader S Jaipal Reddy who joined the party yesterday.

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8220;Jaipal Reddy8217;s entry into the Congress is a reflection of the political polarisation taking place in the country. On one side you have communal forces, and on the other, the secular parties,8221; Rajasekhar said.

Describing Jaipal as an eminent parliamentarian and a leader with a nation-wide image, the PCC president said it was only proper that the Congress offerred him the Lok Sabha seat.