AP slipped into ‘Redbook rule’

Tadepalli, Jan 9: YSRCP Legal Cell State President M. Manohar Reddy on Thursday said Andhra Pradesh has descended into a state of “Red-Book rule” where even ordinary personal acts are being turned into crimes to terrorise opposition workers. Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office, he condemned the booking of non-bailable cases in Tirupati against party activists merely for slaughtering a chicken and having food in connection with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s birthday. He said the activists were handcuffed, their faces covered, and paraded on the roads as though they were dangerous criminals, adding that even the concerned judge reportedly expressed shock over such police conduct.

Manohar Reddy recalled that earlier cases were registered even for cutting a cake with a knife, and warned that the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that soon cases may be filed merely for carrying YS Jagan’s photograph or holding a party flag. The police officers are knowingly violating the law at the behest of political bosses, despite being fully aware that handcuffing and public parading of accused persons is illegal.

He stated that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Minister Nara Lokesh, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Home Minister Anita provoking and legitimising such excesses through their statements. Pointing to the Chief Minister’s public encouragement of cockfights during Sankranti, he called it sheer hypocrisy that YSRCP workers are being arrested for slaughtering chickens. He said these authoritarian policies have led to a complete breakdown of law and order, with Andhra Pradesh reportedly slipping to the bottom ranks nationally. He warned that if police do not immediately correct their course and act strictly according to law, those responsible will be personally held accountable before courts in the future.