I’m fixed in the case as I refused to join Cong

Hyderabad, Aug 27 :

 I’m fixed in the case as I refused to join Cong, says tainted Tdp MLA. While the tainted Telugu Desam Party (Tdp) MLA, Mr T V Rama Rao, on Thursday alleged on the floor of the State Assembly that a case was foisted against him as he did not succumb to the blackmailing tactics of the ruling Congress party, the Government categorically said that the MLA was booked as clear evidence of molestation was available with the police.

The House was abruptly adjourned for the day on Thursday after the Home Minister, Mrs Sabitha Indra Reddy, flatly denied the charges of the tainted Tdp legislator and said that clear circumstantial evidence is available with the Government that the MLA is guilty of the charge of molestation of some girl students of the Spruha Nursing College owned by the MLA in Nidadavole town.

As soon as the Deputy Speaker, Mr Nadendla Manohar, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House for the day the Tdp members tried to storm the Speaker’s chambers in the Assembly Building, but were greatly disappointed on finding the Chambers locked. They held a protest demonstration before the Chambers and gave it up after deciding to stall the House on Friday on the “foisted case” against the party MLA. 

Earlier in the House, the legislator, Mr Rama Rao, alleged that the Congress Government has adopted a revengeful attitude towards him as he did not honour the request of some ruling party leaders to join the Congress. In fact, he named a scribe of “Saakshi” newspaper in pestering him into joining the Congress, who he said also demanded Rs 1 lakh from him. (The newspaper is owned by Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, the son of the Chief Minister, Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy).

“As I did not pay the money to the reporter and refused to join the Congress, I am fixed in this false case,” Mr Rama Rao said. The MLA, with folded hands, appealed to the Chair to arrange for personal security.  “My life is under threat as I rejected the request of the Congress to join the party. Please arrange for personal security,” he said.

The Tdp MLA was arrested in a case of sexually abusing some girl students of his nursing college and was in jail for a few days. He later was released on bail. Narrating as to how he was fixed in the case, the legislator said that the case was foisted against him as he is a Dalit. 

“This is only to spoil my and my family image in the public eye. The wedding of my daughter, which was arranged, did not materialize due to my arrest in the case. The groom’s party went back after the false case was booked against me,” he said.

 Responding to the MLA, the Home Minister, Mrs Sabitha Indra Reddy, said that the police registered the case and took the MLA into custody only after satisfying themselves with the evidence available with them. “There is absolutely no need for the Government to foist cases against legislators and even if Mr Rama Rao does not join the Congress, the ruling party has nothing to lose. One single MLA can not make a huge difference for the ruling party,” she explained. 

Informing the House on the details as to how Mr Rama Rao ducked under a water tank on that day and the crowd that gathered before his college suspecting some foul play, the Home Minister said that the law will take it own course in the case. “In the name of Dalit, no person guilty of any charge can escape the long arm of the law,” she said.

Soon after she completed her reply, the House was adjourned for the day which was resisted by the Tdp members. “The Government is gagging our voice and is not giving us an opportunity to express our views,” the Tdp MLAs said in chorus after the adjournment. They later went to the Speaker’s chambers to protest but returned after they found it locked.