Manda Jagannadham - Aruna War Heats Up

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana, on Monday, expressed concern over the hurling of chairs by party workers against Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannadham. The incident took place at a party meeting in Mahbubnagar district on Sunday.

Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, the PCC chief termed the incident as "unfortunate", and stated that the party would view it as a "very serious matter and initiate serious action against those responsible.

He said that a fact-finding committee has been set up under the leadership of of the district's Congress committee president Obaidullah. Based on the committee's report, the PCC will initiate action against those who violated the party's discipline, he said.

However, the incident is an internal party matter, said Botsa, appealing to Jagannadham to withdraw the police complaint that he had lodged against the party workers.

Trouble started when Jagannadham, on Sunday, took potshots at the district party leaders and minister D K Aruna, accusing them of not taking the Telangana movement forward. He claimed that because of certain leaders' stand on Telangana, the party has been facing a tough time in the region.

Angered by his remarks, D K Aruna's followers shouted slogans against Jagannadham, and hurled chairs at him. He was whisked away, but soon, supporters of both groups were hurling chairs at each other.

Later, in the evening, Jagannadham met the district superintendent of police to lodge a formal complain against Aruna. In his police complaint, the MP alleged that the attack was part of efforts being made by his rival camp to eliminate him.

Calling Aruna "anti-dalit", he demanded that the minister be dismissed from the cabinet. He also demanded that the police book cases against the minister and her supporters, under the SC/ST Atrocities Act. (INN)