Well, this is already widely known, but here’s a recap for those not aware- The brutal murder of 25-year-old Tirumalasetty Lakshmi Naidu in Nellore, stemming from a land dispute, prompted the government to extend support to the bereaved family.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan ensured swift action, with arrests made and a fast-track court ordered.
Naidu announced Rs 5 lakh cash and two acres of land for Lakshmi’s wife Sujatha, and Rs 5 lakh fixed deposits plus two acres each for their children, whose education will be fully funded by the government.
Injured relatives Pavan and Bhargav will receive compensation from the government, land allotments, and medical coverage, underscoring official support to the victims’ family.
The point is, all this cash is public money, the land is government land, and the children’s education is funded by the state. This is not a natural calamity or a death caused by a government mistake, it is a murder.
So why this sudden, unprecedented act by the Allaince Government?
The YSRCP has been sensationalizing the incident, claiming it was a Kamma killing a Kapu. To prevent any communal tension that could destabilize the coalition government, a combination of Kamma–Kapu leadership, the state responded with compensation.
Indeed, it was the YSRCP that demanded the government compensate the victims, and the rest followed suit.
AB Venkateshwar Rao IPS, known to lean toward TDP, strongly criticized the Allaince government’s action.
He said, “On average, 900 murders occur in the AP each year. If every victim is given compensation like this, is it feasible? Is there a government order on this? If murder victims get this much, everyone will come forward. If the victim is to be compensated, the YSRCP should have done it themselves or sought donations instead of demanding the government to compensate, troubling public property.”
AB Venkateshwara Rao is half right but half wrong. He suggested the YSRCP provide compensation directly, but why would they?
Any party or citizen would naturally ask the government to help a victim’s family. Rao could have asked Chandrababu Naidu or Pawan Kalyan to give from their personal or party funds, which would have been valid.
The problem is, Rao raised the issue but then retreated, likely fearing loss of favor with TDP. Pity!
Of course, many TDP supporters are also feeling upset with this decision by the alliance government to give compensation to a murder victim on caste grounds.
Many in the population of Andhra Pradesh are also sarcastically asking whether such compensation is only provided when a Kamma kills a Kapu, or if it applies to any murder between people of any caste.
