Attack On AP Leader of Opposition: Noose Tightens Around Chandrababu  

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

Within hours of the attack on Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly and YSRC Congress party (YSRCP) Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's life in Visakhapatnam airport last Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and AP DGP R Thakur called it a drama staged by the Opposition. It was evident that the two were irresponsible in their statements. It also appears that they had a clear agenda to do so.

In the remand report submitted by the AP Police on the matter, it was found that the attack was aimed at assassinating the YSRCP Chief and that there would have been a threat to his life had the knife hurt him in the neck region. In a slap on the face of Chandrababu and the top cop, the report clearly suggested that their comments were far from the truth. Analysts suggest that Chandrababu lied in a desperate act to cover up the truth.

According to latest reports and buzz in political circles, the AP police personnel were compelled to admit in the report that the attack was aimed at assassinating YS Jagan, keeping in mind the legal troubles in Courts. Also, there is a growing worry over the possibility of pushing the case in the wrong direction after stating that the attack was an attempt to eliminate the YSRCP Chief. It is yet to be clarified as to how the police concluded that the attscker Janupalli Srinivasa Rao was a YSRCP member.

As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Kanna Lakshmi Narayana said, it appears that murderers are also carrying letters in their pockets similar to that of the ones who commit suicide. In another important observation, the police failed to mention that Harshvardhan, a TDP leader, was the owner of the restaurant in which Srinivasa Rao worked.

It's also pertinent to note that the police officials also played down the role of the sharp knife that was recovered from the attacker. In the report, it was mentioned that the knife was small in size and also compared another knife that was recovered from Srinivasa Rao with a blade.

While it remains to be seen the action taken by the police in the case, the report did not mention call data of the assailant. The fact that the report did not address the questions pertaining to the perpetrator of the offense is also raising doubts over the investigation. It appears that the attack was a part of a larger consipiracy against the AP Leader of Opposition when one takes into the fact that Srinivasa Rao conducted a recce before Thursday's attack. Details with respect to the TDP leader who offered the accused a job at the airport also needs to be scrutinized.

Apparently, eyebrows are also being raised over the allotment of a house to Srinivasa Rao's family, money deposit to his bank accounts and his lavish spending in the recent times. Contradicting the 11-page letter against Chandrababu's government recovered from the him is the fact that he attacked the Leader of Opposition. It must be clarified whether the letter was found with the assailant when the CISF personnel reprimanded him. What did the Central agency report on the incident?

As Chandrababu rejects YSRCP's claims of his involvement in the incident, he has to duly prove himself innocent in the matter by calling for a CBI enquiry. It may be recalled that after Chandrababu asked for a CBI enquiry in the murder case of late MLA Parithala Ravi, the then Chief Minister Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy did not waste a minute to order an inquiry. Chandrababu did not respond the way his Chief Ministerial post demands him to after the attack on the Opposition leader.

After calling it a drama, Chandrababu did not even offer words left solace to the AP Leader of Opposition, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy after the attack. Isn't it the duty of the ruling government to ensure the well being of people? By mentioning actor Sivaji's statements on the issue, Chandrababu made it even worse for the public to understand the truth in the matter. It surely is a danger to democracy to be in a situation in which politicians are eliminated to gain political benefit. What's worse is when the ruling party itself is involved in such acts.

Chandrababu, if he wishes to get rid of the controversy surrounding the attack, has to order an investigation by the CBI or a third party agency. Else, the degree of suspicion on him and his partymen will only soar, it must be said.

Also Read:Chandrababu Chief Conspirator In YS Jagan Attack: Bhumana