Amaravati: Naidu slams State government for suppressing rights of Opposition

Amaravati: TDP national president and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday accused the YSRCP government of not just destroying the State development but also suppressing the democratic rights of the Opposition leaders to protest against its anti-people activities.

Naidu deplored that when the Opposition leaders were agitating on behalf of the people and for the protection of their rights, the ruling party was using oppressive methods to suppress them. The arrests of the CPI leaders to prevent them from protesting at Polavaram were highly condemnable.

In a statement here, the TDP chief said that the time has come for all sections of people to unitedly condemn and confront the misdeeds of this government. It was the duty of the Opposition leaders to protest and agitate for the cause of the people. Polavaram dam was not a prohibited area. The government had no right to arrest the Opposition leaders just for trying to take part in protests.

Naidu called for all round condemnation of the undemocratic and despotic activities of the Jagan Reddy regime. It was unfortunate that for the last one year, there was undue delay in the Polaravam works. The resettlement packages for the project evacuees were thrown to winds. Now, plans on reduction of the dam height came to the fore.

Pointing out that the CPI leaders were only going to the project site to protest on dam height, Naidu said that the ruling party was becoming impatient even at the slightest protest. In the past, the TDP regime took people to the dam site and gave them a first hand feel of the construction works. At that time, thousands of workers used to work there along with thousands of tippers and heavy machinery.

Naidu recalled that their rule speeded up works and completed 72 per cent works during its regime. Now, the YSRCP totally neglected Polavaram works in the past 18 months. The government was resorting to suppressive methods against the Opposition just because their protests would expose the YSRCP's failures and misdeeds.

The TDP chief demanded immediate release of the CPI leaders from illegal detention. False cases on the Opposition leaders should be lifted. Those wanting to visit Polavaram should be permitted.