The decision of the Andhra Pradesh cabinet headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu not to provide security to the 'politically motivated' income tax raids in the state has kicked up a big debate in the media circles.
The Naidu cabinet met in Amaravati on Friday evening and took stock of the ongoing IT searches across the state.
The chief minister consulted the law secretary on whether it was mandatory for the state government to provide security to I-T officials. The law official clarified that there is no rule that security should be provided.
Following his advice, Naidu decided that police security being provided to income-tax sleuths who have been conducting the raids across the state since the last two days be withdrawn.
The Cabinet felt that the Friday’s extensive raids on businessmen close to the TDP as politically motivated. It condemned such the largescale raids involving about 200 officers, terming them as unprecedented.
The Cabinet also decided to face the Centre at all levels even to approach appropriate courts.
Naidu is learnt to have expressed that the Centre was trying to disturb the political and economic environment in the state through such raids targeting the ruling party leaders.
Now, the point of debate is what the Centre would do, if the state withdraws its police security to the IT officials.
According to sources, if Naidu does not cooperate with the IT raids, the Centre will send paramilitary forces to provide security to the IT officials.
In such a case, it would not only be an insult to the state, but also dangerous for those who are subject to the raids.
A few ministers brought to Naidu's notice that the Centre had deployed CRPF forces in Tamil Nadu when the state government refused to provide security. Naidu is learnt to have suggested that the state should be ready to face such situation too.
Let us, how the Centre will respond to Naidu’s aggressive posture.
