The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has lashed out at the ruling YSRCP government, after an activist of the opposition party was detained on 3 December, triggering a row.
The Kanchikacherla police in Krishna district arrested TDP activist Yalamanchili Padmaja after a video where she was seen making allegedly derogatory remarks against Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Kodali Venkateswara Rao alias Kodali Nani, went viral.
Padmaja, a resident of Mangalagiri, had made the comments during a protest meeting of farmers, who opposed the recent visit of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu to Amaravati on 26 November. The TDP pointed out that the police had failed to act when some protestors, allegedly affiliated to the YSRCP, threw slippers and small stones on Naidu's convoy.
“When slippers were thrown on Chandrababu Naidu’s convoy, the police said that it was ‘freedom of expression.’ But, when a woman expresses her anguish against the YSRCP government, police finds it unlawful. I strongly condemn the arrest of Padmaja,” TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh tweeted.
In the first video that went viral, Padmaja took note of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Minister Botcha Satyanarayana's comments that Amaravati was a ‘graveyard’ and said that the YSRCP was making misleading and irresponsible comments, and instilling fear into the public over the fate of their capital.
In the video, Padmaja also reportedly said that if Kodali Nani would come before the public, they would only “send back his dead body.”
As the video went viral, many YSRCP leaders and supporters protested the language used by Padmaja and a complaint was filed by a resident of Gottemukkala, with the Kanchikacherla police.
Following this, the police served a notice under Section 41 of the CrPC and took her into custody. A case was also registered against her under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505(2) (Statements conducing public mischief) of the IPC.
Mild tension prevailed as TDP leaders including former MLA Tangirala Sowmya visited the police station.
The TDP leaders have also filed a complaint against Kodali Nani with the Mangalagiri police and said that even he used abusive language.
Speaking to reporters after reaching home on Tuesday evening, Padmaja said, “I spoke because I was troubled by the statements being made by the YSRCP Ministers. One thing is certain, that we will not get scared and sit quietly just because they threaten us by filing cases.”
“Everyone is hearing the abuse he (Nani) is showering on Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh. We are unable to bear it. We still did not abuse him as badly as he is abusing the TDP. We are not afraid and we will fight.”Yalamanchili Padmaja, TDP Activist
The TDP has now demanded that the case against Padmaja be withdrawn.
The Andhra Pradesh police on 1 December formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged attack on Chandrababu Naidu during his tour of the capital Amaravati. The police also refuted allegations that their personnel were involved in the attack.
Police also said that they have taken two people into custody for pelting footwear and small stones. The two accused were booked at Thulluru police station.
Alleging that Jagan Mohan Reddy "destroyed" Amaravati, Naidu during his tour, pointed out that the World Bank, Singapore Consortium and others had pulled out of Amaravati project. "Jagan Mohan Reddy is destroying the future of five crore people of Andhra Pradesh," he said.
(This article was originally published on The News Minute)
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