Tension prevailed at the Congress Legislature Party office when the office-bearers did not allow former minister Dr P Shankar Rao to speak at CLP office and asked him to take prior permission of Office secretary.
Protesting against the CLP's move to lock the office, Shankar Rao staged a protest in front of CLP and conducted a press meet on the steps.
Addressing media persons, Dr Shankar Rao accused the CLP and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of violating his constitutional right to express his concern on public issues.
Taking a serious note on not being allowed to speak at the CLP office, the former minister said that he required no permission to express his opinion on public issues. He said he would lodge a complaint with Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar in this regard.
Stating the CLP office-bearers have been insulting the loyal Congress party workers by setting new modalities, he said that no one could dictate terms to him as both CLP and Chief Minister were nominated by the Congress High Command.
Responding to a question on what would happen if he is suspended from the Congress party for making controversial statements against the Chief Minister, Dr Shankar Rao said that people would suspend Congress party from the state.
Stating that the Chief Minister alone would be held responsible for the outcome of by-election results, he said that the high command would replace Kiran Kumar Reddy by June 15 and a new era would start soon.
It may be mentioned that the CLP office bearers have set modalities to prevent 'misuse' of CLP platform for dissident activities and as per new norms, leaders are required to take prior permission before holding press conferences on any issue.