Andhra Pradesh: TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu tries to defy house arrest, police locks main gate of residence

The gates of Chandrbabu Naidu's residence were fortified with ropes after he tried to defy house arrest and go to Atmakur. Image Credit: ANI

The Andhra Pradesh police have locked the main gates of TDP chief and former CM Chandrababu Naidu’s residence at Undavalli in capital Amaravati after he tried to thwart the house arrest he has been put under by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government. Naidu was attempting to leave for Atmakur to participate in the party’s ‘Chalo Atmakur’ rally despite being put under preventive custody by the police.

As Naidu’s car proceeded towards the main exit, the police secured the main gate using ropes.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1171687950016339968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Clarifying that the preventive custody was not because Naidu opposed the ruling government the Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Damodar Goutam Sawang said: “Opposition leader of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu is being taken into preventive custody as his actions are increasing tensions and creating disturbance to law and order in the Palnadu region of Guntur district.”

Chandrababu Naidu on not being allowed to move out of his residence lashed out on the ruling government in Andhra Pradesh. He said: “This government is violating human rights & fundamental rights. I am warning the government. I am warning the police also. You cannot play this type of politics. You cannot control us by arresting. Whenever they allow me, I’ll continue ‘Chalo Atmakur'”.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1171667602197757952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Naidu’s son too attacked the government calling the house arrest unprecedented. He accused the police of being hand in glove with the YSR Congress Party. Lokesh claimed, “This is a dictatorship, we are being stopped in an undemocratic way. TDP leaders and workers are being harassed. YSRCP MLAs are openly threatening us, saying police is with them,” he said

Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh have been placed under house arrest after the party called for a protest march. TDP is protesting against increasing attacks on its workers allegedly at the behest of the ruling YSR Congress Party.

Section 144 has been imposed in Narasaraopeta, Sattenapalle, Palnadu and Gurajala. With the TDP cadre not being allowed to protest, Naidu has called for a 12-hour hunger strike across the state.

Tension prevails around Naidu’s house as TDP leaders coming to meet him were being prevented from entering the house.

From withdrawing security cover to demolition orders, the Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has gone full throttle against his predecessor Chandrababu Naidu since he has taken AP’s reigns in his hands.

Responding to TDP’s claims of attacks on its workers, YSRCP has called it propaganda and stated that they will now divulge the ‘terror tales’ from the time of TDP reign where thousands of political opponents were attacked and threatened.

The police have stated that no rallies or meetings can be allowed in Palnadu region as section 144 of CRPC and section 30 of the Police Act are in place.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia