The leader of opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday demanded the immediate sacking of the state Governor N D Tiwari for his alleged involvement in a 'sex scandal' in Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad.
"The only way for him is to resign or the Centre should sack him," he said.
He made the demand after a local television channel broadcast a footage showing the happenings in Raj Bhavan late in the night. The television report also alleged that many important people, including some members of Parliament, were also involved in the sordid affair.
"It is very fortunate and shocking incident. The values and ethics have gone down and institutions which are like temples of democracy have been degenerated," he said.
"Never in the past have we witnessed such incidents," he said.
Naidu demanded a CBI inquiry in to the matter.
As ABN channel showed the footage, there was angry reaction from all over the state and the effigy of the governor was burnt in Vijaywada, Visakhapatanam, Kurnool, Hyderabad and many other places.
Several civil society organisations, including women's organisations, have demanded Governor Tiwari's immediate dismissal.
In Hyderabad, the Raj Bhavan rejected the video footage as fabricated and a "tissue of lies".
In a quick damage control, the Raj Bhavan approached the AP High Court, filed a PIL against the channel--"ABN Andhra Jyothy"--and got an order to restrain it from further airing the footage which was allegedly taken inside Raj Bhavan during the night.
The Channel stopped telecasting the footage after the court ordered the channel to stop airing it. The footage was shown for an hour from 10 AM on Friday.
Raj Bhavan denied the footage and issued a statement.
"The Governor is 86 years old and in the evening of his life. It is sad and unfortunate that constitutional functionaries are dragged in to needless controversies," it added.
The Counsel for the Raj Bhavan Ravishanker Jandhyala said, "there is absolutely no truth in the alleged news story which is nothing but sensation mongering."
"The alleged news story is nothing but a 'tissue of lies' and is denied," he said, adding there is no question of his resignation. "We will definitely file a defamation case. Already I have issued a notice in the afternoon(to the channel)," he added.
In Delhi, Congress downplayed the alleged sex scandal involving N D Tiwari, saying since the matter is sub judice it would be inappropriate for the party to comment on the issue.
"Since the matter is sub judice, it would be inappropriate to comment. The veracity of the material should be independently verified," Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told PTI.
On whether the Governor's post should be above such controversies, Tewari said, the material could even be morphed.
Congress on Friday night said the "veracity of the material should be independently verified".
"Since the matter is sub judice, it would be inappropriate to comment. The veracity of the material should be independently verified," Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told PTI. Tewari said the material could even be morphed.
