Report on attack on JP draws Paladugu's ire

A detailed report on the attack on Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan which was submitted by Assembly chief marshal Arthur, drew immediate criticism by senior Congress MLA Paladugu Venkat Rao who was also at the receiving end of the wrath of alleged TRS activists.

Mr Venkat Rao said that though he was also attacked on the opening day of the Budget Session of the Assembly when he tried to intervene and save Dr Narayan, his statement was not taken by Mr Arthur who had compiled the detailed report.

Mr Arthur, as part of his investigations, had recorded statements of TRS MLAs, Etela Rajender, Harish Rao and Vidyasagar, but had failed to approach Mr Venkat Rao on the issue.

The TRS MLAs are believed to have told the chief marshal that they were not involved in the attack on Dr Narayan, but had tried to save him. They also are believed to have said that they had approached the LSP chief to seek clarification on his statement calling for President’s rule in the state.

They also are believed to have told Mr Arthur that the attack took place because Dr Narayan’s calling for President’s rule in the state had roused the ire of pro-Telangana activists.

Mr Venkat Rao also criticised Mr Arthur for failing to take the version of the media persons who were present on the spot at that time, even though he and the scribes were witnesses.

The senior Congress MLA further cast doubts on the veracity of the report and demanded that it be placed before the Legislative Council for Members to peruse. Mr Venkat Rao further said that he was certain that the attack was pre-planned.

He also said that the chief marshal was unfit to hold his post since he was unable to prevent the attack on Dr Narayan at the Media Point nor protect Governor ESL Narasimhan from the advances of TRS Members who had sought to disrupt his address to the Joint Sitting of the Legislature.

Mr Venkat Rao further demanded that a fresh inquiry into the attack should be ordered and the investigators told to take all aspect and versions of all the witnesses in the incident into consideration before filing the report.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy too backed Mr Venkat Rao’s demands and said that neglecting the versions of one of the victims was grossly unfair.

Another Member, TDP Floor Leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao too urged the Council Chairman to table the copy of the report in the House.

Responding to their demands, Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani assured that he would look into the matter.