Despite claiming to have performed exceedingly well during their first year in power, the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party appear to remain apprehensive about a possible resurgence of the YSR Congress Party led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in the coming years.
This concern was evident when both Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his deputy, Pawan Kalyan, cautioned IAS and IPS officers against complacency in taking action against YSRCP leaders allegedly involved in various cases.
At the “First Step Towards Good Governance” public meeting held at Velagapudi in Amaravati on Tuesday, Naidu and Pawan Kalyan delivered strong messages to the attending officials, urging them to act firmly against their political opponents. Both leaders reiterated this directive multiple times during their speeches.
They explicitly called on bureaucrats to take a tough stance against the YSRCP, accusing it of continuing to create disruptions despite being in the opposition.
They also reminded officials of how IAS and IPS officers had operated in the past and criticized the YSRCP’s attitude toward the police force.
They emphasized that anyone disturbing law and order must not be spared and instructed police and administrative officials to respond decisively, even “with an iron foot.”
Pawan Kalyan specifically condemned Jagan Mohan Reddy’s past remark that even retired police officers would be hunted down abroad.
He labeled such statements as disturbing and anti-social, stating that the current government would not tolerate threats or intimidation.
“We’re not scared of threats like ‘we’ll slit your throats.’ That’s exactly why we’re here,” said Pawan. “Don’t try to bully us with such madness. We’re not frightened by the sound of palm leaves clapping. We’re speaking politely because we believe in values.”
He urged officers to act decisively against corruption and threats to public order, warning that the era of leniency was over.
