The Congress in Andhra Pradesh has alleged that the YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress government is planning to demolish the Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan in Visakhapatnam. The building is a memorial of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The allegation comes after the state government demolished Praja Vedhika (a hall adjacent to former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's residence), and served notices to Naidu and his party-Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-accusing them of facilitating illegal constructions.
Levelling the allegations, the Congress said the Jaganmohan Reddy is attacking the Opposition using vendetta politics.
Built in 2008, the Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan is a memorial and cultural centre located at Beach Road in Visakhapatnam. Before his assassination in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, Rajiv Gandhi had spent a day in Vishakhapatnam.
The memorial and cultural centre hosts a permanent photo exhibition on Rajiv Gandhi. Besides this, it also serves as a centre for classical and Carnatic music.
Senior Congress leader and a close aide of Rajiv Gandhi, Hanumanth Rao said the new government headed by YS Jaganmohan Reddy is playing "vindictive politics" to "finish" the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh.
"He [Reddy] was given the mandate to do welfare. What is this demolition of Praja Vedhika, party offices and now Rajiv Smruthi Bhavan? During his father's (late YS Rajasekhara Reddy) tenure as chief minister, I spent my MPLAD fund to keep the memorial alive. What he [Jaganmohan Reddy] is doing now is baffling."