Open rebellion hits AP lifters body

Hyderabad: Challenging the decision taken by Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA) Executive Body to recognise Badeti Venkataramaiah as the secretary of the Andhra Pradesh State Weightlifting Association, its president K P Rao has threatened to sit on a day-long hunger strike along with members from 16 recognised district associations members in front of the Olympic Bhavan in the city if the APOA does not the decision by Saturday. Talking to media here on Monday, Rao alleged that the Executive Committee of the Olympic body had misled everyone by feeding exaggerated facts and figures to substantiate their pint of view. He said that if the APOA failed to put the house in order, the entire weightlifting fraternity from the State would launch an indefinite hunger strike to put pressure on the administrators. Retracing the differences, which date back to 2011, Rao launched a scathing attack on S R Premraj, the incumbent joint secretary of APOA, for issuing forged letters of confirmation to district associations legitimizing their entities as affiliated units. Rao said that Premraj had colluded with the then panelists to serve individual purposes. He lamented that the Executive Committee's decision to go with Premraj's certificates was uncalled for as the matte was sub-judice.A He also said that he will lodge forgery and cheating complaint against Prem Raj and his 'accomplices.'