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Naidu refuses to send CBI on wild meat chase

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday rejected the opposition Congress' demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the controversial dinner wherein meat of protected animals was allegedly served.

Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi and five state ministers, among others, had participated in the dinner hosted by a ruling Telugu Desam Party activist in Khammam district last month.

Replying to a discussion on the issue, which at times generated a lot of heat, Naidu, however, ordered a probe by a senior IAS officer.

The announcement came when Communist Party of India and Majlis Bachau Tahreek members said the inquiry by a forest department official, already ordered, would not do justice.

Asserting that the law would take its own course, Naidu said he had always stressed on the need for protecting wildlife and environment.

Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asahduddin Owaisi staged a walkout in protest to the government's refusal to bring in the CBI.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party-NTR leader Lakshmi Parvathi and supporters were arrested when they tried to take out a procession, in violation to prohibitory orders, outside the assembly.

Earlier, Parvathi was suspended from the house for the day. She had obstructed proceedings for 40 minutes.

Despite Speaker Y Ramakrishnudu disallowing a discussion on her allegation that police caned women in Julurmalli Mandal, West Godavari district, last week, Parvathi remained on her feet. Appeals from all floor leaders went unheeded, forcing Legislative Affairs Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju to move a motion for her suspension.

Once the motion went through, marshalls were summoned to escort Parvathi out of the house.

UNI

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