Andhra Pradesh: TDP President Begins 36-Hour Sit-In Protest, Calls It 'Fight Against State Terrorism'

Naidu said there was a complete breakdown of law and order in the state. He termed the attacks on TDP offices an attack on democracy

Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday began his 36-hour long sit-in demonstration against the attacks on party offices allegedly by the ruling YSRCP followers. He further demanded the Centre's intervention by invoking Article 356 to save the state from the fascist regime.

He called the atrocities on the TDP party offices across the state as 'State-sponsored terrorism' and named his protest a 'Fight against state terrorism'. He said Andhra Pradesh in its present situation was a fit case for imposition of the President's rule.

He claimed that the TDP never made such a demand in the past and it was not in the habit of making such demands considering the need to overlook stray mistakes by some individuals. "But, the lapses of the Jaganmohan Reddy Government crossed all limits. The future of the whole State and the country is at stake now," he said.

He alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was growing impatient over the increasing public resentment against his Government's atrocities, all-round corruption, and attacks on all constitutional institutions. Tuesday's attack on TDP's main office was not a sporadic, isolated incident but a culmination of two and half years of the lawless, anarchic and oppressive regime, he said.

Addressing the party leaders and cadres, the TDP chief reminded the Centre that the dark activities of the Andhra Pradesh ganja mafia was not limited to the State but spread to Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other States.

Stating that the menace of drugs poses a big threat to the nation, he alleged that cases were being booked against TDP leaders for demanding action against those supplying drugs.

Naidu deplored that the 'state-sponsored terrorism' was reaching new heights in the state. "A Member of Parliament became a victim of custodial torture. YSRCP's own MP Raghu Rama Raju was taken into unlawful custody and beaten up. The Jagan regime made countless attacks on the autonomy of the courts, the Election Commission, opposition parties and the general public. Dalit doctor Dr. Sudhakar was put to psychological and financial torture till his death for demanding masks."

Naidu said there was a complete breakdown of law and order in the state. He termed the attacks on TDP offices an attack on democracy. He claimed that the attacks were pre-planned and aimed at eliminating the party. He reiterated that he personally called the Director-General of Police but he did not respond.

He said the TDP party leader Pattabhi Ram's house was attacked and ransacked. There were attacks at several places including party offices at Visakhapatnam, Hindupur and Kadapa. He said TDP offices and leaders were targeted.

"They are saying that the language used by Pattabhi Ram was abusive. Are you ready for a debate on the kind of language used by Jagan and his ministers," he asked the government.

He said though TDP offices and leaders were attacked, police booked cases against them. An intruder into the TDP office was caught and handed over to the police but a case was booked against TDP leaders.

Stating that TDP pays tributes to policemen on every police commemoration day, Naidu said the police department was getting a bad name because of few officers.

(With inputs from agencies)