Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday demanded the dismissal of the Congress government in the state and imposition of President's Rule in the wake of the killing of his party legislator, Paritala Ravi, in a bomb attack in Anantapur town on Monday.
Speaking to media persons after submitting a memorandum to Governor Sushil Kumar Shinde, Naidu demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the killing.
He also wanted a judicial inquiry to unearth all the facts behind the murder. He also gave a call for a state bandh on Tuesday (Jan 25).
Alleging the hand of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, his son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, Panchayat Raj Minister J C Diwakar Reddy (who hails from Anantapur district), Congress leader Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy (who is serving a life term in a bomb blast case), Inspector General of Police (Rayalaseema) R P Meena, Naidu demanded that they should be prosecuted for the conspiracy to eliminate Ravi.
"It is nothing but a political killing. The police and government have colluded with the chief minister to commit this murder. In the eight months that the Congress has been in power as many as 42 Telugu Desam members have been killed by Congressmen. The Congress government not only failed to maintain law and order but also encouraged these killings. Hence, the government headed by Rajasekhar Reddy should be dismissed immediately. There is no other alternative," he said.
"There is no democracy left in the state. A senior political leader was killed despite our party raising the issue of his security before the President and the prime minister. We had clearly said that if anything went wrong with Paritala Ravi, the chief minister would be personally responsible. Even then this happened", Naidu said.
He recalled that the Telugu Desam had repeatedly raised this issue in the state assembly and urged Speaker K R Suresh Reddy to ensure protection to the legislator.
"When factional violence peaked in Anantapur after the Congress came to power, the government appointed R P Meena as IGP of Rayalaseema even though Telugu Desam opposed his appointment.
"We had specifically told the chief minister that he has a grouse against our party and had advised not to appoint him. But the chief minister did not listen," Naidu said, alleging that it was because of Meena's appointment that this murder took place.