Tadepalli: YSRCP President and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy strongly condemned the arrest of former Minister Dr Seediri Appalaraju, alleging that the Chandrababu Naidu government had stooped to the level of turning even a road accident into a weapon of political vendetta.
Reacting to the arrest, YS Jagan said that the 18-year-old son of Dr Seediri Appalaraju, a BC leader from North Andhra, was arrested and remanded on a murder charge after being accused of accidentally causing a road accident while riding a motorcycle. He said that instead of applying provisions relating to a road accident, a murder charge was invoked against the young man, and the subsequent arrest of his father clearly demonstrated the government’s intention to politically persecute an entire YSRCP leader’s family.
“What exactly is Dr Seediri Appalaraju’s crime? Is it questioning the excesses of the Chandrababu government? Is it standing by the people of Palasa? Or is it earning respect as a doctor and serving the public?” YS Jagan questioned.
He also questioned whether a new system of law was being implemented in Andhra Pradesh, where the political agenda of Chandrababu Naidu was first carried by the “Yellow media” and subsequently converted into criminal cases by the police.
YS Jagan asked whether the same standards would be applied to road accidents involving TDP leaders, Ministers, their relatives and followers. “If a family member of a TDP leader is involved in a road accident, will that person and other members of the family also be arrested in the same manner?” he asked.
He said the arrests reflected an attempt to implicate and silence political leaders who were questioning the government over its failures, corruption and anti-people decisions.
Highlighting Dr Seediri Appalaraju’s background, YS Jagan said he had risen through his own merit from an ordinary fishermen’s family. He excelled in his studies, became a doctor and provided medical services to many people. With the support of the people, he was elected as a YSRCP MLA and subsequently served as a Minister.
“Attempting to portray such a person as a criminal through false charges is reprehensible,” YS Jagan said.
Referring to the accident case involving Appalaraju’s 18-year-old son, YS Jagan questioned how an alleged accidental collision could be treated as murder. He said that if a shepherd had unfortunately died after being accidentally hit while the young man was riding a motorcycle, it was incomprehensible how the incident could be termed murder or how the father could be linked to the accident involving his son.
“How can the father be linked to an accident involving his son? Is this not a grave injustice?” he asked.
YS Jagan asserted that arrests and cases would not intimidate the YSRCP. He said the party would stand firmly behind every leader and every worker fighting for the people.
“Mr Chandrababu Naidu, power is not permanent. The people will not tolerate the false cases, illegal arrests and abuse of authority taking place today. They will certainly teach your government a fitting lesson,” YS Jagan said.
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