If the YSR Congress party’s legal fight yields any positive results, party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to get additional security cover during his proposed Nellore visit shortly.
YSRCP leaders have been alleging for some time that although Jagan has been accorded Z+ category security, the police have not been providing him adequate protection.
The issue has gained fresh attention following Jagan’s recent visit to Rentapalla, where YSRCP leaders alleged that the lack of proper security led to the tragic death of a party worker, Singaiah, who was run over by Jagan’s convoy.
Jagan recently cancelled his proposed Nellore tour on Wednesday at the last minute.
Before this decision, YSRCP leaders filed a petition in the high court, alleging that the government was not cooperating in arranging a helipad for Jagan’s visit and that adequate Z+ security was not being provided.
The high court heard the petition and issued key directions.
The court ordered YSRCP petitioners Lella Appi Reddy and Chandrasekhar Reddy to present the guidelines issued by the Centre regarding Z+ security.
They are now set to submit the Centre’s guidelines to the court, which will then examine whether Jagan is being provided security as per the prescribed norms. This will also clarify whether Z+ security was indeed provided during Jagan’s Rentapalla visit.
The state government lawyers argued that since Jagan’s Nellore tour had already been cancelled, the petition had become irrelevant and should be dismissed.
However, YSRCP petitioners contended that the tour was cancelled precisely because of the denial of Z+ security, and urged the court to proceed with the hearing and issue necessary directions.
The high court’s decision is expected to play a crucial role in this ongoing security-related controversy.
