Jagan Reddy Warns Police on Accountability After Retirement

Pulivendula, October 27 (Daily Kiran) : Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed party workers in Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday, asserting that any attack on a YSRCP member would be viewed as an attack on him. He issued a stark warning that police officials responsible for injustices would remain accountable even after retirement.

Reddy urged the police to remember their duty lies not with former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu but with the Constitution. He reminded them to honor their oath and the emblem of three lions on their caps.

Speaking before the upcoming local body elections, he criticized the ruling coalition for conducting elections on an uneven playing field. Reddy accused the government of resorting to undemocratic tactics due to its failure to fulfill electoral promises and its fear of the elections.

He stressed that elections should be held fairly, providing equal opportunities for all candidates, unlike the current local body elections, which he claimed were marred by the misuse of government machinery to prevent the opposition from filing nominations.

Reddy stated that arrests and harassment are not new for the YSRCP. He recounted that the party was born in opposition and has faced numerous challenges with public support.

He noted that discussions are ongoing in every household about the differences between his administration and that of Naidu, suggesting that voters will make their decisions in the upcoming elections.

With two years remaining in the current term, Reddy hinted at a potential “YSR Jagan 2.0” after that period. He expressed gratitude to the people of Pulivendula, who supported him after his father’s death, contributing to his rise to the chief minister’s office.

Reddy declared that Pulivendula would serve as a starting point for a statewide movement to protect democracy. He announced his intention to return the day before voting and to cast his vote personally, urging citizens to stand firm and ensure voters can freely express their choices.

In a pointed comparison, Reddy likened Naidu to the character Shakuni from the Mahabharata, who deceives opponents to achieve false victories. He questioned how the integrity of election results could be maintained when the nomination process is conducted unfairly.

He remarked that while booth rigging had been reported in the past, Naidu has escalated the issue by seizing nomination centers and blocking candidates from submitting their papers, effectively transforming it into “nomination rigging.”

Reddy concluded by emphasizing that true democracy allows everyone to contest elections freely, and it is disgraceful to prevent opponents from participating while claiming victory.

The YSRCP leader also noted that the ruling coalition is celebrating victories in 17 urban local bodies, with TDP securing 15 chair positions, Janasena one, and BJP one, claiming that 21% of 2,108 wards were won unanimously.