YS Jagan on Chevireddy's arrest: There is 'no rule of law' in AP

Amaravati: YSR Congress MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy was detained by police today after he held a protest for arresting ruling TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas and the party MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao for "abusing" an IPS officer.

Reddy staged a sit-in protest near the Andhra Pradesh Assembly entrance gate for his demand.

The issue also found its echo in the Legislative Assembly, with the YSRC members storming the Speakers podium and raising slogans.

When the Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy sought to raise Reddys detention by police on floor of the House, his mike was cut.

This led to adjournment of the proceedings for over an hour, but the opposition legislators stayed put in the well in the House, raising slogans.

Amid the din, the government conducted its business of getting some bills passed before Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao adjourned the House for the day.

On Saturday, the TDP MP and the MLA had allegedly abused Transport Commissioner N Balasubrahmanyam, an IPS officer, and Deputy Transport Commissioner Meera Prasad at the Regional Transport Authority office in Vijayawada over a report the department had submitted to the police in a bus accident case.

Rao had shoved the officers PSO when the latter tried to protect the officer.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas is a major private bus operator in the state.

However, the duo apologised yesterday after a "rap" from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Meanwhile, the protesting YSRC MLA Reddy was whisked away by the police as the Chief Ministers convoy was entering the Assembly premises.

He was taken to the Mangalagiri Rural police station and was lodged there for over six hours, before he was allowed to go after 4 pm.

A group of YSRC MLAs, led by the Public Accounts Committee chairman Bugga Rajendranath Reddy, was prevented from entering the police station.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramanjaneyulu told the delegation, "If you are MLAs, go to the Assembly. What work do you have in the police station?"

Later, the YSRC MLAs lodged a complaint with the Assembly Committee of Privileges against the police officer over his "high-handed" behaviour.

Talking to reporters in his Assembly chamber during break, Jagan alleged there was "no rule of law" in the state.

"The government is setting a very wrong precedent. The Chief Minister himself is settling the cases and protecting his errant legislators over their highhanded behavior. He is preventing the law from taking its course. It happened earlier in the case of a woman tehsildar Vanajakshi and now with a IG-rank IPS officer.

"What about the poor constable who was manhandled by the TDP MLA? They did not even apologise to him," he said.

He said that the YSRCP MLA was arrested by the police for demanding justice.
"When other MLAs of our party went to visit him, they were prevented from entering the police station. If this could happen to lawmakers, what will be the fate of common people? It could happen even to journalists," Jagan said.