Jagan blames Naidu for TDP atrocities

Hyderabad, July 7 (INN): Holding Chandrababu Naidu directly responsible for the blatant murder of democracy in the just concluded municipal and local body chairperson elections, YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy today expressed hope that Governor ESL Narasimhan would take steps to enquire into the TDP Government's atrocities that marked the election process and take suitable action.

Speaking to media persons outside Raj Bhavan here after leading a party delegation to the Governor and submitting memorandum on the issue, Jagan Mohan Reddy said Chandrababu's stoic silence on the perpetration of illegalities by his party men confirmed that he was behind the pre-planned murder of democratic process during the elections.

'If he is not involved, why didn't he condemn the undemocratic incidents?' he asked, adding that the entire government machinery was totally misused to orchestrate majority for the TDP even in places where YSRCP had clear majority.

Even district collectors and SPs went out of their way and obeyed the illegal orders of their political boss Chandrababu Naidu by remaining mute spectators to the horrifying spectacle of kidnapping, poaching, intimidating and baiting of YSRCP councilors and MPTC and ZPTC members.

'If you want to gain control of the municipal and local bodies in the most illegal way you did, why did you conduct elections first of all? That could have been done through nominations as well,' Jagan Mohan Reddy asked Chandrababu.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said that municipal councilors and local body members who were elected on party tickets were subjected to undue influences in an unprecedented manner to eliminate the opposition in the state.

'TDP has resorted to these illegalities to divert people's attention from his total failure to implement his poll promises. But the real opposition to his government are the people and they will take the rulers to task by holding their collars one day for their failures,' he observed.

The YSRCP chief said that though YSRCP had majority in four ZPPs, it could win only Kadapa because of the unfair means adopted by the TDP. 'TDP forced postponement of the elections to Nellore and Prakasam ZPP chair persons despite having the quorum.

We had majority in 239 mandals but won only 200. In municipalities, we should have won 36 but we won only 19 all because of TDP atrocities,' he said, wondering if there is democracy in the state at all. 'Chandrababu Naidu is openly encouraging TDP workers to attack YSRCP cadres.'

Saying that people are living in the grip of fear following the TDP's illegalities in the local body chairperson elections, Jagan Mohan Reddy said the only achievement of TDP after coming to power is the killing of 17 YSRCP activists beside injuring 110 others.

'50 per cent of the victims of TDP violence are SCs and women,' he said, adding that police are refusing to register cases against TDP leaders and workers and even if cases are registered in some cases, police are taking no action.

'By-elections will take place to Allagadda and Nandigama assembly constituencies soon and to the Nandyala parliamentary constituency also after the disqualification of SPY Reddy. I doubt the Government's willingness to conduct these elections in a peaceful manner,' he said and added: 'We will soon meet PM, President and Union Home Minister also to complain against the TDP's illegalities.'