Andhra CM protecting criminals, should step down, says TDP chief

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy step down from his post after the state Governor turned down the Cabinet resolution rejecting the CBI plea for prosecution of state Roads and Buildings Minister.

The state Cabinet had adopted a resolution on November 23 rejecting the CBI's request for prosecution of Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who was named as accused number five and charge-sheeted in the Vanpic Port land scandal.

However, the Governor E S L Narasimhan rejected the Cabinet resolution and returned the file to the Chief Minister's Office.

"This Chief Minister is protecting the criminals and the corrupt. He has no right to continue in office," the Leader of Opposition said, addressing a public meeting as part of his "Vastunna Meekosam" foot-march at Kothapalli in Karimnagar district today.

Chandrababu cited the Cabinet resolution to buttress his charge against Kiran.

"The Chief Minister is applying different yardsticks for different people. While other accused in the Vanpic case have been arrested, the Chief Minister is preventing CBI from prosecuting Dharmana, who is accused number 5 in the same case," the TDP chief pointed out.

He also noted that the CBI presented strong evidence of wrongdoing against Dharmana, who was Revenue Minister during the then Y S Rajasekhara Reddy regime.

Chandrababu demanded the government should immediately grant permission to the CBI for prosecuting Dharmana.

He also sought the resignation of the Chief Minister in the wake of Governor's rejection of the Cabinet decision.