Former Chief Minister and president of Telugu Desam Party, N Chandrababu Naidu blamed YSRCP for the death of ex-Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao. Naidu alleged that Rao killed himself, due to the ‘humiliation’ meted out to him by the YSRCP led government. The former Andhra Pradesh Speaker allegedly killed himself on Monday at his residence in Hyderabad. Police have initiated a probe in his death.
According to the press release by Basavataram Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, Rao was brought to the hospital at 11.35 am and was declared at 12.39 pm.
Addressing the media, CEO of Basavataram Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, RV Prabhakara Rao said, “As per protocol, after he was brought to the hospital, we tried resuscitation (a process of administering a combination of chest compressions and artificial ventilation to restore normal circulation of blood.). After an hour, when we evaluated his health both his lungs and heart had failed.”
The Banjara Hills police have filed a case under 174 CrPC (suspicious death), and have sent his body to Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad, for autopsy to determine the cause of the death.
However, Naidu alleged Rao killed himself due to mental agony and physical pain caused by the YSRCP.
“We have been witnessing the harassment after this government came to power. Due to this harassment, he suffered mental agony. He was worried in what new ways that he would be humiliated,” Naidu said.
“He told me two-three times earlier that he wasn’t able to sleep because of the humiliation. I had asked him to be brave and exude confidence among the party workers but he took this decision,” Naidu mourned.
Recently, Rao was accused of stealing Nizam era furniture, an air-conditioner and office computer from the Speaker’s office in Hyderabad. A case was also filed against him in this regard. However, Rao had justified the act saying that he moved them to his residence in his native town of Sattenapalli, as they could have been stolen or damaged when the office was shifted to Amaravati. He even said that he would pay money for the government property which he was using.
His daughter P Vijayalakshmi and son Siva Ram were also booked by the police for extortion from traders and people in the region and were accused of collecting ‘Kodela Tax’.