It was close to two months back that YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh died in a Bell helicopter crash. Now some sections have raised a controversy saying the crash was a result of a conspiracy.
A Telugu daily and Telugu TV channel owned by YSR’s son Jagmohan Reddy have picked up the ‘story’.
Konijeti Rosaiah, who has succeeded YSR as chief minister and is settling down in his job, remained non-committal on the conspiracy theory.
“My initial information was that it was purely an accident. But now there is talk of a conspiracy behind it. If there is a conspiracy it needs to be uncovered”, he told a ‘Meet The Press’ programme in Hyderabad on Tuesday. It was his first formal interaction with the media.
The doubts raised over the crash are one too many.
1. How the helicopter travelling from Hyderabad to Chittoor on September 2 suddenly came down from a height of 5,500 feet to 1,500 feet?
2. How after avoiding a bigger hill the chopper collided with a smaller hillock?
3. How the helicopter piloted by an experienced crew veered off its path by 18 kms to the east before crashing in Kurnool district.
4. Why Chennai Air Traffic Control failed to properly guide the pilots?
5. If the engine of the helicopter had failed, how the blades of he chopper were still rotating at the time of the crash ?
6. Why Bell 430 helicopter was used for the Chief Minister's journey when it was allowed to be idly parked at the Begumpet airport for several months?
7. Were there any security arrangements at the Begumpet airport after it was closed down for civilian traffic a couple of years back? If so how effective were these
8. Did YSR express a fear for his life just before his death?
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), federal investigating agency, is probing the case on the request of state government. The Civil Aviation Directorate, also of Federal government has ordered an inquiry in the technical aspects. The black box has been sent to the US for analysis.
‘Without the completion of the inquiry and getting the reports it is not proper for me to say whether there was any foul play or not’, Rosaiah told a questioner.
But some Congress leaders, who have not taken kindly to Jagmohan Reddy’s pitch for his father’s slot, have promptly demanded resignation of the home minister Sabita Reddy, who is identified with YSR camp.
A lawmaker even targeted the political advisor to YSR, who is continuing with Rosaiah also. He said, the advisor, KVP Ramachandra Rao should have resigned immediately after the helicopter crash. If officials concerned could be sacked or suspended, why KVP should get a different treatment, he asked at a presser.
KVP is credited with the campaign ‘Make Jagan CM’ that refuses to die down even after the Congress leadership rejected the demand.
At his press meet, chief minister Rosaiah appeared unfazed by the ‘pro-Jagan’ campaign.
He termed the campaign as an expression of a desire.
‘They are only trying to take their voice in a democratic fashion to the party high command. There is nothing wrong in it and I don't have any objections’, he said
In the same breath, the veteran politician added: ‘The Congress High command knows what is good for the party and it will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time ensuing that there was no indiscipline in the party’.
And his ‘sincere advice’ to YSR’s son: ‘I wish all the best for his future and I wish that he should emerge as a good leader by walking in the footstep of his father and he should become a good leader for the State. His colleagues and supporters should also extend their full support and work to enhance his image and prestige’.
Significantly, only on Wednesday, the Congress high command denied reports in a section of Telugu media that Jaganmohan was invited to Delhi for talks.
‘There is no truth in the reports. He (Jaganmohan Reddy) was not asked to come. No appointment was given’, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here in Delhi.
Also, significantly, for the first time since the death of YSR, questions have begun to be raised on his popular appeal.
All these days, the state has been gripped by what may be termed as mass hysteria for the late leader.
It appears the Congress party had lost an election from the very same place where the YSR chopper had crashed. It was a purely local election and it was held to fill up a vacancy in a local body. The Congress hoped to win by cashing in on the groundswell of sympathy.
“Will some one explain why the Congress candidate had lost in the local body’s by-election”, asked a lawmaker, Madhu Yashki, who had several run-ins with YSR.
-Asian Tribune -
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