TDP MP Kesineni Nani and MLA Bonda Uma on Sunday apologised to Andhra Pradesh State Transport Commissioner N Bala Subramanyam for allegedly misbehaving with him.
The entire incident began after transport officials held a media conference on Sunday to demand that the Vijayawada MP and MLA tender an unconditional apology.
An official said Nani, who owns a bus transport company called Kesineni Travels, tried to pressurise the Commissioner to change a road accident report. When the latter refused to oblige, he along with his supporters staged a protest.
Nani and others entered into a verbal duel and obstructed the way of the Commissioner for about two hours.
The MP alleged that due to the “corrupt” practices of transport officials, around 400 private buses were operating across the state without permits.
He sought immediate seizure of private buses operating without permits.
“Around 150 buses which belong to Orange Travels are operating in Vijayawada and around 400 buses are operating across the state. Owner of Orange travels, Sunil Reddy, is a ‘benami’ (proxy) of YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy. He is influencing transport department officials by offering bribes,” Nani alleged.
Subramanyam denied the allegations and said every bus was paying taxes to the Transport Department and operating with permit.
A video also surfaced that showed the TDP MLA roughing up one of the security personnel of the Commissioner.
Following the uproar by Nani, Transport Department employees issued a threat to go on pen-down strike from Monday, following which Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu intervened in the issue.
Both the politicians have since assured Subramanyam that such an incident will not recur.
Earlier, they had met Naidu and gave their version of the incident that took place at the commissioner’s office on Saturday.
Naidu, also the TDP chief, said leaders of ruling party should be more cautious and should not give scope for any controversy.
