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Naidu assures Owaisi of impartial probe

Shireen in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday offered to order a probe by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department of the state police into the lathicharge on Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen floor leader Asaduddin Owaisi that occurred in the old city on September 24 last.

Intervening during a two-hour long discussion on the issue in the legislative assembly, the chief minister assured that action would be taken against the police officials named in the complaint filed by Asaduddin Owaisi in this connection.

However, Naidu rejected the demand voiced by the MIM, Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident, saying that a senior state police official would conduct the enquiry into the incident in an impartial manner. He also turned down the demand for the arrest or suspension of the erring police officials, pending the completion of the enquiry.

"You say you have no faith in the local police because the Telugu Desam Party is in power in the state. Why do you want a CBI probe when the Bharatiya Janata party-led National Democratic Alliance government is in power at the Centre?" he asked Asaduddin Owaisi.

The chief minister also refuted the allegation that he or his government was behind the incident. "The charge that I wanted to victimise you is not correct. There is no question of victimising anyone. I condemn the lathicharge incident. It is unfortunate. The enquiry is going on. Action will be taken after investigations are completed," he told the MIM floor leader.

Asserting that he had no grudge against the MIM for supporting the Congress in the recent elections, he said that the TDP's basic political philosophy was opposing the Congress. With this objective, the TDP had entered into seat adjustments with the BJP in the recent polls. The MIM openly supported the Congress. There was nothing wrong with such a political stance.

"People have elected four MLAs and an MP belonging to the MIM. This is good. But don't politicise the lathicharge incident. Please cooperate in the maintenance of law and order," Naidu said, adding that he had initiated steps for the development of the old city. Thanks to firm measures taken by his government, the incidents of communal violence had come down steeply in Hyderabad in the last four years, the chief minister remarked.

Earlier, replying to the discussion, Home Minister T Devender Goud termed the lathicharge on the MIM legislator as "unfortunate" and said that the police had booked a complaint against the police officials involved and the investigation had been taken up by the Special Investigation Team of the city police. As many as 28 persons were interrogated in connection with the incident, he pointed out.

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