PM Manmohan Singh spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM Y. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday to express "regret" in police firing in Khammam district two days ago.
NEW DELHI: Ahead of his one-day visit to Hyderabad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday to express "regret" and convey his condolences to the kin of those who died in police firing in Khammam district two days ago.
"The prime minister expressed his regret at the unfortunate incident," said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, referring to the incident in which six activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) were killed on Saturday.
Eight other activists were injured when police opened fire at the protestors in Mudigonda, some 200 km from Hyderabad, during a statewide agitation seeking land for the poor.
"The prime minister reiterated the government's commitment to redistribute the surplus land and fulfil the stated commitments to the rural poor, especially the landless," the statement said.
"The chief minister informed the prime minister of the steps taken and of the decision to institute a judicial inquiry. The prime minister conveyed heartfelt sympathy for the next of the kin of those who died in the firing," it said.
"He enquired about the welfare of those injured."
After the incident, Left parties have mounted pressure on Reddy to resign and warned that the incident would have "far-reaching repercussions". They also wanted the Congress leadership to take note of the strong public resentment against the chief minister.
Manmohan Singh's visit to Hyderabad on Tuesday is primarily aimed at reviewing the various programmes on agriculture and infrastructure, as also to discuss the investment plans for Andhra Pradesh, officials said.
Reddy is also likely to bring up the proposal to set up an autonomous market regulator for pricing of natural gas in the Krishna-Godavari Basin, as suggested by the Planning Commission.
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