| WOMAN PROTESTS AGAINST GANDRA, ASSAULTED

Accusing former MLA and senior Congress leader Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy of sexually exploited her, a woman named Vijaya Lakshmi Reddy on Thursday launched a protest at Jayashankar circle in Bhupalapalli. She demanded that Ramana Reddy should be suspended from the Congress and should not be allowed to contest the upcoming elections.

Local women Congress activists reached the spot and asked her to call off her protest. When Ms Vijaya Lakshmi Reddy said she would continue her protest until Ramana Reddy was punished, the women attacked and manhandled her. She was beaten up and dragged by her hair. After a scuffle, they took her to the police station and lodged a complaint against her.

The same woman has previously protested outside the residence of Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy in Hanamkonda on August 6 this year. She also filed a written complaint in the Subedari police station. On the same day, Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy filed a complaint with the police saying the woman was acting on behalf of his political rivals who wanted to tarnish his image.

Ms Vijaya Lakshmi Reddy who claims to be a social worker contends that Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy has been involved in a physical relationship with her since four years but was now ignoring her.

When asked, Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy termed the incident a political conspiracy intended to malign his reputation before the elections. “The TRS leaders are wary of my growing popularity in Bhupalapalli. Certain that I will win the elections, they resorted to such cheap politics using a woman. The people of the constituency know what kind of a person I am. They will vote for the right person,” he said.