Tirupati, Dec29: YSR Congress Party strongly condemned the rising attacks and harassment against the Arya Vysya community under the coalition government, stating that law and order in Andhra Pradesh has collapsed. Speaking in Tirupati, YSRCP PAC member and former minister Vellampalli Srinivasa Rao said that in just 19 months, incidents targeting Arya Vysya traders have increased sharply, exposing the government’s failure to provide basic security. Instead of protecting citizens, the administration is misusing the police machinery to intimidate business communities.
Referring to the Podili incident, he said a young trader, Avinash, was brutally assaulted and illegally detained by a Sub-Inspector merely because a lorry was parked near his shop. Even after returning from hospital, the youth was assaulted again, and his father was beaten for questioning the police action. This incident, he said, reflects the growing culture of police brutality in the state. He demanded the immediate suspension of the concerned SI and justice for the victim family.
Vellampalli also cited the Piduguralla incident, where an Arya Vysya trader and his wife were harassed, and demanded suspension of the CI involved. He warned that if attacks and harassment against traders continue, statewide protests will be launched, and asserted that YSRCP will stand firmly with business communities. He accused the coalition leadership of pretending to show concern for Arya Vysyas while, in reality, allowing intimidation and repression to grow unchecked.
He further criticised the coalition government for administrative failure in Tirumala, stating that the TTD has collapsed under political interference. Ordinary devotees are being neglected, basic facilities are lacking, crowd management has failed, and devotees are being forced to wait for hours, leading to chaos and stampede-like situations. He said the TTD governing body has reduced itself to serving political interests instead of devotees, and demanded immediate corrective steps to ensure safety and dignity for pilgrims.
Former MLA Malladi Vishnu said Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a “police raj,” with authorities ignoring repeated High Court warnings and acting in an unconstitutional manner. He said the Podili incident, where a trader was publicly assaulted and illegally detained till midnight, has shocked the public. While coalition leaders garland statues of Potti Sriramulu, they are betraying his ideals in practice. He demanded an unconditional apology to the Arya Vysya community, immediate suspension of the guilty officers, and warned that if the government fails to act, YSRCP will launch statewide agitations along with trader organisations.
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