TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu stated on Saturday, hours after being apprehended in connection with an alleged multi-crore skill development scam, that he was willing to give his life to protect the interests of Telugu people and that no force could stop him. During his detention, he urged the public and party cadre to exhibit caution. Naidu was apprehended after an early morning police operation in which officers knocked on the door of the caravan in where he was sleeping.
Taking to X, the former Andhra Pradesh CM said: "For the past 45 years, I have selflessly served Telugu people. I am prepared to sacrifice my life to safeguard the interests of Telugu people. No force on earth can stop me from serving Telugu people, my #AndhraPradesh and my motherland."
"Finally, truth and dharma will triumph. Whatever they do to me, I will march forward for the people," he said.
Speaking with media, Naidu's wife Nara Bhuvaneshwari stated: "A child goes to a parent when they are upset. That's why I came to the deity (at Durga Devi temple) to share my pain. I prayed to the deity to protect my husband and give him courage. Chandrababu Naidu continued his fight not for his family but for the freedom of the people of Andhra Pradesh. I want him to win the fight..."
The CID apprehended the opposition leader about 6 a.m. from a marriage hall (outside which his caravan was parked) in Gnanapuram, Nandyal town. Following Naidu's arrest, his son Nara Lokesh was also arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Police in the East Godavari district. "The police stopped Lokesh, saying that he should not go to Chandrababu," the TDP claimed. In the video shared by TDP, Lokesh can be seen protesting his father's imprisonment, as party leaders insist Naidu's detention is "illegal."
Meanwhile, Naidu's detention provoked a protest at Tirupati's Annapurna Sarukulu complex. People were seen screaming slogans and burning a tyre in the neighbourhood, according to video posted by news agency ANI.
Condemning the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu, Jana Sena party President Pawan Kalyan stated: "Such incidents are unfortunate in a democracy. The manner in which the former Chief Minister was arrested today is sad. We are openly opposing the way the authorities and the political party are arresting as per the orders of the government leaders."
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has asked the President and Prime Minister to intervene in the 'illegal' detention of its president, news agecy IANS reported. Kesineni Srinivas (Nani), a TDP MP, has written to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The MP from Vijayawada informed them that Naidu was detained on Saturday by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) on several charges.
“The circumstances surrounding Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest have raised serious doubts about the legality and fairness of the process. The charges against him appear to be politically motivated and excessive in nature. As citizens who cherish our democratic values, we are deeply concerned about this situation,” his letter was quoted by IANS in its report.
On the arrest of former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, TDP National Spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain said: "...N Chandrababu Naidu's arrest is condemnable...This work was done with a German-based company in which only 10 per cent of funds were to be given by the Andhra Pradesh government. 90 per cent of funds had to be given by the German-based company...His arrest was political propaganda by the YSRCP government. No reason was stated for his arrest neither an arrest warrant was produced..."