VIJAYAWADA: The rape of 23-year-old mentally challenged girl has taken a political turn with opposition Telugu Desam and others trying to corner the state government over the incident. Tension mounted at the government hospital, where the girl has been admitted, with leaders from both ruling YSR Congress and opposition TD arriving there to console the victim and her family members.
When AP Women’s Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma arrived at the hospital to meet the victim, Telugu Desam leader Bonda Uma, along with other party activists, obstructed her from going into the hospital. TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu was present there at the time. He asked Padma why she had arrived at the hospital after failing to protect the victim. The chairperson retorted saying it is her responsibility to meet the victim as chairperson of the AP Women’s Commission.
Despite obstructions, Padma managed to reach the victim and consoled her. She advised her not to panic even as opposition Telugu Desam supporters led by Panchumarthi Anuradha were raising slogans.
Following this, TD leader Uma questioned why opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu is not being allowed to meet the victim. In the interim, Naidu asked Vijayawada police commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata to let him meet the victim, so that he could leave. Naidu was subsequently allowed to meet the victim before leaving.
Home minister Taneti Vanitha slammed Telugu Desam leaders for trying to politicise the gang rape, as they had no other issue to blame the government. She said the state government is ready to provide a job to the victim or her mother based on their interest, apart from a house or house site.
Meanwhile, following the confrontation at the hospital, the AP Women’s Commission chairperson served notices to former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and TD leader Bonda Uma Maheswara Rao to personally present themselves before the commission for an inquiry at 11 a.m. on April 27. The notice said the former CM had arrived at the hospital along with his henchmen and wantonly created trouble, leading to a tense atmosphere.
