New Delhi, January 02: Cracking the whip, Congress High Command today issued a show-cause notice to rebel Andhra Pradesh Minister from Telangana K Venkata Reddy, who had raised a storm by criticising K Rosaiah, even as the Chief Minister came under attack from more party leaders.
Reddy, who has reportedly refused to get back his resignation that was sent to party chief Sonia Gandhi last week, has been issued the notice for “deliberately lowering party’s prestige”.
The notice was issued by AICC General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi, who is in-charge of organisational affairs, after he received a report from Veerappa Moily, Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh. Dwivedi has given 7 days time for Reddy to reply.
Reddy, who is the IT Minister, had yesterday hit out at Rosaiah over his comments that Naxalites were involved in the statehood movement, saying his remarks were affecting the bifurcation of the state.
He had also said Rosaiah should behave like the Chief Minister for Andhra Pradesh and not just for coastal Andhra.
The Chief Minister today came under attack from Congress Working Committee member K Keshav Rao, who hails from Telangana region and senior MLA R Damodar Reddy.
Rao criticised Rosaiah for not withdrawing “false” cases filed by police against students and other Telangana supporters.
Meanwhile, highly-placed Congress sources said the party will send representatives from three regions of the state — Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana — for the 8-party meeting convened by Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on January 5.
They said APCC chief D Srinivas (Telangana), Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy (Rayalaseema) and senior MP K S Rao (coastal Andhra) will represent the Congress in the meeting.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah will also attend the meeting. TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao had already announced that he would attend the meeting.
The meeting is the first step in the consultation process on the vexed Telangana issue.
Keshav Rao said: “The police cases should have been withdrawn by now as the Union Home minister had promised to do so.”
He alleged the chief minister was giving an impression that law and order was being handled by the Governor.
Damodar Reddy took exception to the complaint reportedly made by Rosaiah against Venkata Reddy.
“When the minister has already offered his resignation, does it really matter if you complain against him to the high command,” Damodar Reddy asked.
The current crisis in the state could have been avoided had Rosaiah tabled a resolution in the assembly after the Centre made the announcement on December 9, Reddy said. “It is not proper for the Chief Minister and DGP to say that Naxalites and ex-Naxalites have joined the Telangana movement in full force.
He should not try to scuttle the formation of Telangana by sending reports to the Centre or by speaking to the media like this,” he had said.
Reddy asked: “You (Rosaiah) neither introduced a resolution in the assembly nor issued a whip to the MLAs. Are you not responsible for this crisis by not tabling the resolution or issuing a whip.”
Rosaiah, however, received support from Health Minister D Nagender who said the criticisms were uncalled for.
Several other ministers from non-Telangana regions also found fault with the IT minister for attacking the chief minister.
Meanwhile, TRS MLA T Harish Rao alleged that the chief minister was hatching a conspiracy to remove Venkata Reddy from the Cabinet.
“The chief minister is adopting double standards. He complained to the high command against Venkata Reddy. But why he is silent on the leaders from non-Telangana regions who defied party high command,” Harish Rao claimed.
—PTI