YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday alleged that an "undeclared emergency-like situation" was prevailing in the state, as the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led coalition was targeting opposition leaders and unleashing a reign of terror.
Speaking to the media after visiting former minister Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy and his family in Nellore, Jagan accused the Chandrababu Naidu government of misusing the police to file false cases against opposition leaders.
He claimed that Naidu was pursuing a vindictive agenda, encouraging attacks on political opponents’ residences without regard for constitutional norms or democratic values.
Defending Prasanna Kumar Reddy’s alleged abusive comments against TDP MLA from Kovvur, Jagan said such criticism was common in politics.
“That does not justify sending armed mobs to attack his house, creating fear while his elderly mother was inside. This amounts to sadistic pleasure and reflects a 'red book' style of governance,” he said.
Jagan further criticized the massive police deployment and roadblocks set up to stop people from meeting him during his visit.
He said these unprecedented restrictions reflected Chandrababu Naidu’s fear of the YSR Congress and were attempts to distract the public from the government’s failure to fulfill election promises.
Earlier in the day, Jagan had a 'mulaqat' (prison meeting) with former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy, who is currently lodged in Nellore jail.
He alleged that Naidu was taking sadistic pleasure in repeatedly filing false cases against opposition leaders to keep them behind bars for extended periods.
