The alleged attack on the convoy of Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah by the Telugu Desam Party activists at Alipiri in Tirupati landed party president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in soup.
Though the TDP leaders initially tried to brush it aside as a minor incident, the BJP leaders took it very seriously and sought to make a direct attack on Naidu himself, alleging that he was the mastermind behind the attack on Shah’s convoy.
“Till the other day, we have been saying the TDP government is full of corrupt people. Now, it is clear that it is full of rowdies and goondas as well,” the BJP leaders said.
They wondered when the government could not provide security to the president of a national party, how could it ensure law and order in the state.
TDP leaders like Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy tried to turn tables on the BJP leaders saying the incident happened only due to provocation by the BJP workers.
“In fact, the TDP workers were injured in the incident,” he said.
However, Naidu made every effort to control the damage caused to him and his party. He issued a statement condemning the incident and directing that the TDP workers who threw stones at the convoy be immediately suspended from the party.
“I am against violence, there can’t be even small clashes and slight tensions in our movement for justice. Clashes and tensions are hurdles to development,” Naidu said and asked the party cadre to be disciplined and said that they should act more responsibly when in power.
