Shankar Rao accuses CM of harassing Vijayamma

Former Minister Dr P Shankar Rao on Monday condemned the alleged harassment of Ysr Congress Party honorary president Vijayamma and her daughter Sharmila by the police during their campaign trail.

Talking to reporters outside the Congress Legislature Party office, Dr Shankar Rao said that the behaviour of police officials was highly condemnable and they should not have checked their suitcases frequently. He alleged that Vijayamma's suitcases were being checked on the instructions of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and police was treating their luggage as those of terrorists. He said such actions would damage the Congress party in the by-elections.

Dr Shankar Rao also condemned the Chief Minister's remarks wherein he stated that Jaganmohan Reddy would face imprisonment for at least 14 years in the assets case. He said the Chief Minister should restrain from making such statements as the investigation into the case was still in progress.

He also demanded that the CBI arrest former Government Advisor KVP Ramchandra Rao in the disproportionate assets of Jaganmohan Reddy. He said KVP could provide vital information with regard to allotment of lands in Emaar and other projects as he was very close to the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Further, he demanded that the government recover the land allotted for all controversial projects.

The former minister hailed the participation of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the by-elections' campaign. He said Azad's visit has energised the workers at all levels and requested him to extend his tour for a few more days.