Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the coalition government of deteriorating law and order in the state while pursuing vindictive politics that will lead to future repentance.
Addressing the media on Thursday after visiting jailed YSRCP MLA Virupakshi in the local jail at Panchalingala, Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy said the coalition government led by TDP has routinely named victims as accused and filed false cases to suppress the opposition. He added that the ruling coalition has specifically targeted Backward Classes (BCs), who form YSRCP’s support base.
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False cases were brought against Virupakshi, with 38 people including the MLA, his family, and followers accused in fabricated cases under what Jagan described as the ‘Red Book constitution’. The police allegedly entered the MLA’s residence forcibly, destroyed CCTV cameras, arrested the representative during a nocturnal operation, and lodged serious charges against him and others.
Jagan Mohan Reddy further stated that TDP workers tore the robes of Virupakshi’s wife and blamed the MLA to facilitate police registering a case under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe laws. He also claimed that when evidence of an attack on a YSRCP cadre’s house was presented, the police refused to file a complaint.
The former Chief Minister said Virupakshi had intervened to protect his supporters after police failed to act during an attack on party worker Hari, who was being escorted to safety by the MLA. He alleged that TDP cadres assaulted the vehicle carrying Hari and seriously injured Virupakshi’s brother.
Jagan Mohan Reddy highlighted other instances of alleged targeting of BC leaders, including the arrests of Seridi Apparaju, accused in a road accident case escalated with serious charges; Mustafa, arrested in a tobacco deal case converted into a kidnapping charge; and Chinthada Ravi, arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman sub-inspector while managing a mob.
He said the clear motive behind these arrests was to harass political opponents with false cases, but warned that those pursuing the ‘Red Book constitution’ would have to repent. Despite police reforms initiated by his administration, he noted that during his visit to the MLA, the police took his photograph from an inappropriate angle while standing.