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Days after Andhra ban, police stop Naidu’s roadshow
Hundreds of police personnel were deployed at Santhipuram in Kuppam, where Chandrababu Naidu was scheduled to address a roadshow on Wednesday as part of his three-day tour
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh police on Wednesday prevented Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu’s roadshow in his Kuppam assembly constituency in Chittoor district, citing the government order prohibiting public meetings and rallies on roads across the state.
Hundreds of police personnel were deployed at Santhipuram in Kuppam, where Naidu was scheduled to address a roadshow on Wednesday as part of his three-day tour, TDP leaders said. Police also rejected an application by TDP leaders for Naidu’s meeting at NTR statue centre at Santhipuram. They resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the large crowd and also seized several vehicles, including the Prachara Ratham (Naidu’s campaign vehicle), TDP leaders claimed.
High tension prevailed in Peddur village, bordering Kuppam, as police stopped Naidu, who drove from Bengaluru, from moving further. When thousands of TDP workers welcomed him with garlands and began the procession, the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse them.
Palamaner police led by deputy superintendent of police N Sudhakar Reddy stopped the TDP chief and tried to serve him notices, which he refused to take. The former chief minister then engaged into a heated argument with police.
“I don’t mind going to jail for the sake of people. If you have guts, arrest me and throw me behind the bars,” Naidu told the DSP. “I am the MLA from Kuppam for the past seven terms. It’s my home. How can you prevent me from going to my own house.”
Palamaneru sub-divisional police officer CM Gangaiah had already issued a notice to TDP leaders saying no permission was granted for Naidu’s roadshows. Naidu demanded to know why permission was being denied for his visit but the SDPO did not give any reason and left.
Defying the police, Naidu later marched on the streets in Pedduru and addressed the people.
Speaking to reporters, Naidu pointed out that he had written to the state’s director general of police several days ago informing about his Kuppam tour. “Now the DSP tells me to make door-to-door visits to meet the people and interact with them,” he said.
Police took hundreds of TDP workers into custody when they tried to stage demonstrations on Palamaneru National Highway after they were prevented from going to Kuppam to attend Naidu’s meeting. Naidu’s personal assistant Manohar, who was making arrangements for his visit to Kuppam, was also detained.
They alleged that the police removed the stage set up at Kenamakulapalli where Naidu was supposed to address the people, as part of the Rachabanda programme.
Late on Monday night, the YSR Congress Party government issued an order prohibiting public rallies and meetings on all state roads, including the national highways. The order came in the wake of two stampedes at the public rallies of Naidu in a span of four days claiming 11 lives — eight at Kandukuru in Nellore district on December 28 and three at Guntur town on January 1.
Lashing out at chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu alleged that the government order prohibiting roadshows was “illegal”.
“What sanctity does the government order have? The Police Act, 1861 is not applicable to the state of Andhra Pradesh. How can the government issue an order based on that Act,” he asked. “The illegal GO was issued on January 2 but the police claim the prohibitory orders came into force from January 1.”
He also claimed that a similar meeting was organised at Vizianagaram by YSRCP leaders, even after the issuance of the GO.
“Had I taken a similar decision when I was the chief minister, Jagan would not have even moved out,” he said.
YSRCP lawmaker and in-charge of Kuppam KJR Bharat, however, accused Naidu of putting people’s lives at risk for his political gains. “Despite taking 11 lives in two stampedes in the last few days, Naidu is still stooping to low levels for his cheap publicity,” he claimed.
Bharat alleged that despite being conveyed by officers about the restrictions well in advance, Naidu tried to defy the order and provoked his cadre to get into confrontation with police personnel.
“Naidu is desperate to draw people’s attention, which he is not getting otherwise. People across the state have dejected him,” claimed Bharat. “He is trying all means to gain people’s sympathy.”
