Rosaiah dares Naidu to accept probe into assets

HYDERABAD - Escalating the ugly war of words with leader of opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Tuesday dared him to accept a judicial probe into the assets of both leaders and those of their family members from when they entered politics to now.

Reacting sharply to the allegations of corruption made by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, he said: “If you have the courage, you should accept by this evening a judicial probe into the assets we had when we entered politics and what are our assets today. Let it become clear who is corrupt, who amassed how much wealth and who looted the state.”

Addressing a news conference, the veteran Congress leader made a scathing counter- attack on the former chief minister on various issues.

On the TDP leader’s remark that Rosaiah had hit the jackpot by becoming chief minister, he said Naidu was the only leader in the state’s history who murdered an incumbent to become chief minister.

“Did you not kill your own father-in-law (N.T. Rama Rao) by hijacking his MLAs and keeping them in a hotel. Did you not throw a chappal at him when he came to the hotel to appeal to the MLAs to come back,” Rosaiah asked the leader of opposition.

“I became chief minister on the direction of the Congress party leadership following the tragic death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash. I did not become chief minister by backstabbing somebody,” Rosaiah said while referring to the revolt led by Naidu against NTR in 1995.

“I am in politics for 59 years. I entered politics when you had not even started wearing knickers and I don’t need your lectures,” the 78-year-old leader said lashing out at Naidu for his criticism.

The chief minister said the language Naidu was using was unbecoming of a leader of opposition.