The district unit of the CPI came out in defence of their party leader B. Vijayasarathi, CPI Mahbubabad Assembly secretary, who was shown in the sensational Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) remand report of liquor syndicate leader N. Venkata Ramana as having collected Rs.40,000 from liquor lobby.
According to CPI sources, Mr Vijayasarathi collected the amount with the knowledge of the party for arranging the three-day district-level conference of CPI in Mahbubabad held from January 19 to 21. “It was an official programme of the party and Mr Vijayasarathi issued a receipt to the liquor syndicate members (receipt No. 8 in book No. 3 on January 10) in return for Rs.40,000 collected from them,” said CPI district secretary T. Srinivas Rao, while terming donation for their party funds as legal under law.
While the CPI Mahbubabad unit convened a press conference on Wednesday to give their side of the explanation, Mr Srinivas Rao told media persons in the city that the Income Tax rules allow for tax exemption to those who donate towards the party funds of recognised political parties.
He, however, maintained that all the rest who figured in the ACB report had no reason to take money from the liquor syndicate. “Others took money not for party funds but for personal reasons,” he added.
Surprisingly, the district Telugu Desam unit, which has four MLAs in Warangal, did not publicly react even after their ruling counterpart and Mahbubabad Congress MLA Maloth Kavitha reportedly collected Rs.5 lakh as per the statement given to the ACB Warangal range by liquor syndicate leader N. Venkata Ramana.
“No comments,” said TD politburo member and senior TD leader Kadiam Srihari, when asked about the party’s comments.
It may be recalled that last week, ex-tribal minister and father of MLA Ms Malot Kavitha Mr Redya Naik had demanded the ACB Warangal sleuths to disclose the names of all those involved in the liquor syndicate soon after four liquor lobby members were arrested in Warangal.
Though the remand report had named two political figures from Warangal, the TRS district unit leaders did not react either to the episode even though the TRS’ Khammam district convenor D. Rajender’s name figured.
“We have nothing to comment on the liquor syndicate and its nexus with various people. Achievement of statehood is our only goal,” said TRS Warangal district convenor Mr Peddi Sudershan Reddy.
Meanwhile, even after being warned by the Excise minister Mr Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao of stern action against liquor shops for violating MRP on Wednesday, city shops continued to collect Rs.1-10 in excess of the MRP and without giving any receipts for the purchase.