Chandrababu Takes Political Rivalry To A New Low After Attack On YS Jagan

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

Developments following the murder attempt on the life of AP Leader Of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, caused deep anguish.

The manner in which the chief minister and director general of police of Andhra Pradesh have responded gives rise to a lot of distress. In stark contrast, the dignity with which YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy reacted to the cowardly attack on his life brings out the difference between his evolved approach as opposed to the uncivilised response of Chandrababu Naidu who claims to have 40 years of political experience.

YS Jagan stated that he could escape because of God's grace and people's blessings and asked people not to worry about his condition. On the other hand, AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu described it as a drama staged by a YSR Congress fan. Can anything be more objectionable and crass? Do fans approach leaders with sharp knives used in cockfifghts. Do they gain sympathy in this manner? If this is indeed the case, why didn't Chandrababu get any sympathy when Maoists attacked him in Alipiri? It is worth recalling how dignified Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy was as Leader of Opposition at that time. Dr YSR not only condemned the incident in the strongest of terms but also sat on a day-long protest against the Maoists. Contrast this with Chandrababu Naidu's reaction to the cowardly attempt on YS Jagan's life. It has only brought him disrepute and has tarred his image further.

Also Read: YS Jagan Attack: Can Chandrababu Answer These Questions?

No chief minister has ever displayed the sort of meanness and pettyness exhibited by the TDP chief. In the normal course of events, one would expect such incidents to be seen from a neutral perspective putting politics aside. When the Leader of the Opposition is attacked, the chief minister is expected to condemn the act and declare that the guilty would be punished regardless of party affiliations and that stern action would be taken. In fact, he should have called YS Jagan and offered moral support. Instead, Chandrababu Naidu resorted to petty politics of a new level by questioning those who called YS Jagan or visited him to enquire about his health.  One must say that something seems to have gone wrong with Chandrababu Naidu when one observes his intolerance and complete absence of dignity in the way he behaves these days.

Is it not a fact that regardless of party loyalties of the attacker, it is the government's responsibility to ensure security to the Leader of the Opposition? Is Chandrababu not aware of this fact? However, what is most despicable is the abhorrent manner in which the AP CM and some of his cronies have been trying to deflect the attention of the people and give ti a different colour. Producing a morphed flexi showing the accused Srinivasa Rao sending Sankranti greetings to YS Jagan, claiming that his brother and other family members are followers of YSR Congress party and other such falsehoods are among the cheap tactics being used by Chandrababu Naidu and his band of flunkies.

The TDP Propaganda machine also swung into quick action to add another falsehood to their narrative by stating that the attacker had with him an eleven-page letter speaking positively about YS Jagan. However, YSR Congress Party leaders effectively on every single point. They pointed out that YSR Congress fans always used Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy's image on flexis and that they never printed posters in yellow. Moreover, they pointed out that the picture of an eagle or garuda was yet another discrepancy which could never be attributed to a YSRCP fan. From these surface level facts it becomes apparent that this is a TDP conspiracy. Former Ongole MP and senior YSR Congress Party leader, YV Subba Reddy stated this in emphatic terms.  Srinivasa Rao's brother admitted that they came from an economically weak background and it is doubtful whether someone from such a deprived background could put up a flexi 6-ft tall.

Moreover, the question whether such a flexi would remain in place for ten months, goes unanswered. The glaring discrepancy between Chandrababu Naidu's statement and that of the state DGP is yet another nail in the TDP's coffin. While the CISF said that  the case was handed over to the state police at 1.30 pm, Chandrababu stated it was done at 4.30. The AP Chief Minister also claimed it was a part of Operation Garuda. Is Chandababu admitting then that neither he nor his intelligence wing have the competence that Telugu actor Sivaji does? Is this not a glaring example of Chandrababu Naidu's inefficiency? Above all these things, what one notices in Chandrababu is the irresponsible way in which he has been reacting to developments. This is not something that be described as befitting the status of a chief minister.

For a DGP to claim within minutes of the incidence that the attacker belonged to a certain political party while he could not find out the employer of the accused is a TDP activist, shows that his statement was clearly political in nature. This is a disturbing facet of the entire case. This has further deepened the impression built by the AP police that its system has been fully weakened by the TDP government. It is shocking for the AP chief minister to even claim in the most absurd fashion that the attack carried out on the AP Leader of Opposition in Visakhapatnam airport fell under the jurisdiction of the Centre and that his government had nothing to do with it.

Does Chandrababu Naidu have an answer to the question as to why AP Police went directly on to the runway in Visakhapatnam airport to arrest YS Jagan when he went there to stage a candle light protest demanding Special Category Status for AP. Is the CM ignorant of the fact that it is the AP Police which has to investigate the matter? Chandrababu Naidu went so far as to suggest a connection between Special Category Status, a link with the centre and likely president's rule in the state! All this show the state of panic which has overpowered him. His statements reflects a lack of balance and stability. He has become the laughing stock of people with his illogical statements and is bringing Andhra Pradesh into disrepute as well.

However, strategically Chandrababu is silent on the fact that his new found friends from the Congress were also courteous enough to call upon YS Jagan and condemn the attack on him. In Andhra Pradesh Raghuveera Reddy of the Congress said that mafia rule was prevalent at the Centre and in the state while Jana Reddy from Telangana Congress and other local leaders called upon the AP Leader of Opposition to enquire about his health. Why is it that Chandrababu Naidu does not find fault with them? Should people seek his permission to condemn or to visit someone in hospital? These are some of the jokes doing the rounds on social media networks. In the final analysis, it is the TDP and Chandrababu Naidu who have become the butt of all jokes. YS Jagan, on the other hand, emerged from this attack standing taller and has only gained in political stature.

Also Read: Is Chandrababu Behind The Operation Garuda Script?