Hyderabad:
Two weeks before the release of the Srikrishna committee report, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has given in to demand by opposition parties, and has withdrawn one-third of the cases against those who were involved in violence and arson in the agitations both for and against statehood to Telangana.
"Taking into account the future of students and the requests made by their parents, we have withdrawn cases of those who are not involved in serious offences," said Kiran Kumar Reddy.
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), however, is not pleased with the partial withdrawal.
"We are totally dissatisfied and unhappy. We want the government to use its authority and lift all the cases unconditionally, as it has done in the past," said K T Rama Rao, TRS MLA.
The government however found support for its decision from other parties.
"I would like to know if after the 31st, if again there is stone-pelting, buses are burnt, rasta roko happens, violence takes place, will the government going to withdraw those cases also," said Akbaruddin Owaisi, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA.
Lawmakers point out that though there are precedents for withdrawal of cases, political interference in the due process of law only encourages anti-social behaviour. With December 31 around the corner, when the Srikrishna committee submits its report on Telangana, this could be playing with fire.