Former state chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday asked the state director general of police (DGP) to withdraw “false cases” against his party leaders in reference to a statewide protest organised by TDP against the increase in fuel prices on August 28.
“A section of police were harassing opposition leaders together with the final public if they exhibited any iota of dissent against the govt [sic],” Naidu said in an exceedingly strongly worded letter to the DGP.
The TDP attempted to conduct a statewide protest against fuel hike on August 28, which led to the arrests of a number of its leaders, including Chintamaneni Prabhakar, a former MLA from Denduluru.
Calling the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government’s rule “suppressive police raj”, Naidu alleged that the police arrested TDP leaders from their homes late within the night furthermore, and asked state DGP Gautam Sawang to require cognisance of the “deteriorating” law and order situation.
The former chief minister claimed that on August 28, agitators demanded the rollback of petrol, diesel and essential commodity prices in a very “peaceful manner”.
Naidu added that Prabhakar held a peaceful demonstration,and a false case was registered against him under sections 143, 341, 290, 353, 269, 271 r/w (read with) 149 of the Indian legal code, and sections of 32 PA-1861, 51(a) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. He stated that Prabhakar was arrested from a marriage function in Visakhapatnam.
“What was the requirement to arrest an opposition party leader and former MLA in such an unscrupulous manner?” the TDP national president asked. the most Opposition contains a low number of leaders in province, providing the ruling YSRCP, led by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, won 151 of the 175 assembly seats within the 2019 state elections.
The TDP and YSRCP often lock horns over several issues, and Naidu has often alleged police partiality ever since he lost the elections two years ago. However, the ruling YSRCP hit back against Naidu, stating that Prabhakar has 74 cases registered against him for various offences committed within the past.
“Chandrababu Naidu talking about Prabhakar, who could be a history sheeterdoes not be, as he has 74 cases registered against him. During Naidu’s time as chief minister, Prabhakar had attacked two sub-inspectors and two Mandal Revenue Officers,” said Abbaya Chowdary Kothari, YSRCP spokesperson and MLA from Denduluru seat (in West Godavari district), explaining that Prabhakar had a history of assaulting the police.“If you’re writing a letter to the DGP about him, what reasonably a message are you sending?” questioned.
Kothari said on August 28,Prabhakar obstructed the road with 150 people and even pushed a lawman, that action was taken against him. “Petrol prices are high as we’ve got to pay back oil bonds, so why can’t Naidu use his MPs and question the BJP(-led Centre)? a politician on duty was attacked, so is Naidu saying that law shouldn’t taken its own course?” he questioned.
