Perni Nani slams TDP coalition govt’s law and order failures, says AP under 'Red Book' rule

Hyderabad: In a scathing critique of the TDP coalition government's administration, former minister Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) declared that Andhra Pradesh is now being governed not by the principles of Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar but by the "Red Book" constitution.

Speaking to the media at the party central office here on Monday, Perni Nani mentioned a significant decline in law and order under the coalition government led by Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Narendra Modi.

He highlighted that the current police administration in Andhra Pradesh is unprecedentedly biased and partisan, drawing parallels to the politically motivated violence once seen in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. He criticised the government for perpetuating State-sponsored violence, which he claimed has been escalating daily, making the current state of affairs worse than previous days.

The former minister pointed to the heinous murder of YSR Congress Party worker Subbarayudu in Mahanandi mandal of Nandyal district, calling it a clear case of government-sponsored killing. He accused the government of failing to maintain law and order, citing multiple instances where the police either failed to act or were complicit in the violence.

Nani expressed outrage over the increasing attacks on police officers by ruling party leaders, stating that such incidents have become a daily occurrence in Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that incident in Seetharampuram, where despite repeated pleas for police protection, no action was taken until after the murder had occurred. He said the coalition government is using the police force as a tool for political repression rather than for maintaining public safety.

He recalled that in 2014, immediately after coming to power, Chandrababu Naidu, during the first district collectors' conference, said that their party workers had been out of power for ten years and instructed the collectors to let them earn money, Nani criticized this approach, contrasting it with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s directive during his initial meeting with collectors and SPs, urging them to work beyond party lines. Nani highlighted the dignity and magnanimity of Jagan Mohan Reddy's leadership, urging the public to note the difference between the two leaders.

Nani lambasted Chandrababu Naidu for not addressing key issues from his manifesto, such as the Super Six and gas cylinders, during the recent collectors' meeting. He mocked Naidu's frequent refrain of having no funds, reminding that the state treasury was empty when Naidu left office in 2019. Despite this, Jagan Mohan Reddy did not backtrack on his promises.