Government employees and supporters of united Andhra Pradesh participate in a protest against the formation of a separate Telangana state in Hyderabad on October 8.
At a time when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has been accused of supporting protests against the state's bifurcation to create Telangana, a former top cop has alleged that Mr Reddy asked him to give an adverse report against the proposed new state.
Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy, who was replaced a week ago, has claimed that the Chief Minister had asked him to say a separate Telangana would lead to more Maoist problems.
But speaking exclusively to NDTV's Uma Sudhir, Dinesh Reddy also admitted that he had felt humiliated by the Chief Minister and that was also a reason for his outburst.
"I feel he did a turnaround and did not extend my tenure as promised because I refused to toe his line," the former police chief said.
He also alleged that the chief minister had tried to force him to transfer officers who had tried to contain the protests against Telangana.
Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is from the Seemandhra region comprising coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, has been accused by his own party men of supporting the agitation for 'united Andhra Pradesh' that has led to a serious power crisis in Seemandhra and crippled many essential services. (
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Congress leaders and ministers have repeatedly petitioned the party against dividing the state. But ministers who had threatened to quit now say they will defeat the Telangana proposal in the state assembly. The Centre, however, says the assembly's decision won't change anything. (
In pics: Protests, power outages and two fasts)
"There is anger against division, against party, and against us," Mr Reddy had told NDTV. "I was born here, I studied here, and worked in Hyderabad my whole life, but my native place is elsewhere. After 53 years, you can't say, you don't belong here."
(There is anger against the party and us, says Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister)Kiran Kumar Reddy's Congress party denied the senior police officer's allegations. "Dinesh Reddy should go to court and prove his charges, instead of making wild statements. Why did he not speak out when he was still in service?'' senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh was quoted as questioning.