Govt resorting to vendetta politics

Rajahmundry, November 2: The Andhra Pradesh coalition government, unable to answer for its grave failures in handling the Montha cyclone devastation, the Kashi Bugga temple stampede, and the explosion of the fake liquor mafia across the state, has resorted to diversionary politics by illegally arresting BC leader and former minister Jogi Ramesh, said YSRCP East Godavari district president and former minister Chelluboina Venu Gopalakrishna. Addressing the media at the YSRCP office in Rajahmundry, he condemned the government for abandoning cyclone-affected farmers, running away from responsibility for nine deaths in the Kashi Bugga temple stampede, and shielding TDP leaders caught in massive fake liquor operations, instead of governing with accountability. He said lakhs of acres of crops were damaged in the Montha cyclone, but enumeration is faulty, compensation has not been paid, the free crop insurance scheme that protected 84.8 lakh farmers with Rs. 7,802 crore under YSRCP has been scrapped, Rs. 600 crore input subsidy remains unpaid, and only 19 lakh farmers who paid insurance premiums are now covered, leaving lakhs helpless.

Venu Gopalakrishna said nine innocent devotees died at Kashi Bugga due to complete administrative failure during Ekadashi rush, yet the government shamelessly claimed it was a private temple to escape responsibility. He said the coalition government is instead focused on silencing the opposition, filing false cases, and targeting BC leaders, as seen in the illegal arrest of Jogi Ramesh simply because he questioned the failures. He reminded that after fake liquor factories surfaced in Mulakalacheruvu, Ibrahimpatnam, Eluru, Palakollu, Repalle, Anakapalle and other places, investigations confirmed TDP leaders’ involvement, including Mulakalacheruvu TDP in-charge Jayachandra Reddy. Instead of arresting those guilty, the government privatized liquor shops, removed QR codes on bottles, encouraged over one lakh belt shops and illegal permit rooms, and turned the state into a hub for spurious liquor.

He said Jogi Ramesh had publicly sworn at the Durga temple along with his family, offered to take a lie-detector test, and even approached the High Court demanding a CBI investigation, but the government arrested him the very next day because it could not face the truth. He challenged Chandrababu Naidu to show courage by ordering an inquiry into allegations against his own MLA Kollikippudi Srinivas if he truly believes in justice. He further accused Naidu of misleading the public about his London trip, calling it alternately a private visit and an investment mission. Calling it a clear case of political vendetta and BC suppression, he said Jogi Ramesh’s arrest is a drama staged using Janardhan Rao as a front.

Stating that if the government had shown even half the urgency in protecting devotees at Kashi Bugga, nine lives could have been saved, he announced that YSRCP will hold candlelight rallies across the state tonight in memory of the victims and to pray for peace to their souls. Venu Gopalakrishna demanded immediate support to cyclone-hit farmers, justice for the families of temple victims, a CBI probe into fake liquor operations, action against TDP leaders involved, and unconditional release of Jogi Ramesh. He called on the government to stop suppressing dissent, abandon diversion tactics, and focus on fulfilling promises to the people instead of indulging in revenge politics and protecting corrupt liquor networks.