Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah said on Tuesday that if there was a conspiracy behind the death of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash, it needs to be uncovered.
Speaking at a meet the press program of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists in Hyderabad, Rosaiah said that his 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".
His remarks assume significance in the backdrop of a fresh controversy around the September 2 crash of helicopter in Kurnool district in which the then Chief Minister and four others were killed. The controversy erupted with a Telugu Daily Saakshi, owned by YSR's son YS Jaganmohan Reddy carrying reports that the helicopter crash was result of a conspiracy. The report also claimed that before his death YSR had also expressed fear for his life.
The controversy has also taken a political color with some senior Congress leaders questioning why the state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and Public Security Committee chairman KVP Ramachandra Rao did not resign owing the moral responsibilty for the crash and Reddy's death.
When asked about the conspiracy theory, the Rosaiah pointed out that two types of inquiry were on and the reports were awaited. Pointing out that the Crime Branch CID had launched its investigations and later the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Rosaiah said, "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?"
He said from the technical point of view the Director General of Civil Aviation was also conducting its own inquiry. He also referred to the statement of All India Congress Committee spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi in New Delhi on Monday that the probe was on from every aspect.
Meanwhile launching a fresh attack against Jaganmohan Reddy's camp, Congress member of Parliament Madhu Goud Yashki wondered why the state Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and Public Security Committee chairman KVP Ramachandra Rao did not resign from their respective posts taking the moral responsibility for the helicopter crash. Madhu Goud told the reporters in Hyderabad that while some senior police officials were transferred after the crash, those in higher positions did not resign. Yakshi said that YSR had appointed trusted people in key positions. He said that the Public Security Affairs committee should have taken bigger responsibility for the death of the chief minister and demanded for an indepth probe in YSR's death.
Former home minister Jana Reddy also demanded a larger probe in to the matter as the issues comes under both the state and the central government. Responding to the demands for her resignation, Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy told the media that after losing a great leader like YS Rajasekhara Reddy, posts did not matter to her. "Facts should come out. That is why several inquiries have been ordered. We want to find out if any body was responsible and what were the causes for the crash. The government will take action after getting the reports".
