YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Slams Chandrababu Naidu Over Alleged Attacks on Non-TDP Voters

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday slammed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over alleged attacks targeting individuals who did not vote for Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the recent elections. The former Chief Minister alleged that the properties of those who did not vote for the TDP were being attacked. He warned CM Naidu of a potential backlash from the public if he does not change his approach. Jagan Mohan Reddy was talking to media persons outside Nellore Central Jail after meeting YSRCP leader Pinneli Rama Krishna Reddy.

The YSRCP chief said that Pinneli Rama Krishna Reddy was arrested on false charges. He accused the TDP of destroying statues of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, damaging properties belonging to YSRCP supporters, and attacking people, emphasising that such actions have no place in a democracy. Pinneli Rama Krishna Reddy was arrested on June 26 in cases related to the breaking of an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling station in the Macherla Assembly constituency on polling day on May 13 and for allegedly inciting violence. The former MLA from Macherla constituency in Palnadu District was arrested after Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition. After the video of the EVM smashing incident surfaced on May 21, on the direction of the Election Commission of India, Pinneli Rama Krishna Reddy was booked by police under Sections 143, 147, 448, 427, 353, 452 and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 131 and 135 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.

The YSRCP leader was also booked in three other cases relating to post-poll violence in Macherla. However, the High Court on May 23 had granted anticipatory bail to him and had directed police not to take any action till June 5. Later, the temporary relief was further extended. Since the historic electoral verdict exactly a month ago on June 4th, Jagan Mohan Reddy had mostly kept away from the media and public eye. Today, he called for a press conference, ironically from the Nellore Central Jail where he had previously met Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy.

Addressing the media, Jagan made a surprising argument in defense of Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who is jailed for destroying EVMs and assaulting an election agent. 'When a person has been elected as an MLA four times, he is obviously a good man. Pinnelli is one such man. He has been falsely jailed using fabricated cases,' Jagan stated, despite videos surfacing of Pinnelli allegedly destroying EVMs in Macherla causing confusion among the public. The former CM accused the TDP government of operating under the influence of 'red books.' 'Chandrababu has a red book, Lokesh has a red book, every other TDP leader has a red book.

They are using these red books to harass YCP leaders and supporters,' Jagan claimed. Jagan appears not to have fully accepted the electoral outcome, asserting there is no public backlash against the YCP. 'Perhaps the people of Andhra Pradesh voted for Chandrababu just because of his false promises. The YCP worked for the people's benefit but still lost the election,' he remarked. He then issued a stern warning to Chandrababu, hinting at retaliation: 'If this culture of harassing YCP cadre and leaders persists, then your party leaders and cadre will also face similar consequences in the future.'