AP Skill Development Scam: Opposition condemns Naidu’s arrest; protesting TDP leaders, cadre held

Amaravati: Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday strongly condemned the arrest of TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu for his alleged role in the Skill Development Corporation scam case and accused the YSRCP government in the state of not following due procedure.

Naidu was arrested by the CID police around 6 am after he was removed from his caravan, parked outside a marriage hall at Gnanapuram in Nandyal town, sparking protests by TDP leaders across the state.

Reacting to the arrest, Naidu in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said, “For the past 45 years, I have selflessly served Telugu people. I am prepared to sacrifice my life to safeguard the interests of the Telugu people. No force on earth can stop me from serving Telugu people, my #AndhraPradesh and my motherland.” During his arrest, he appealed to people and party cadres to exercise restraint.

“Finally, truth and dharma will triumph. Whatever they do to me, I will march forward for the people,” he added.

Political vendetta, says Pawan Kalyan

Pawan Kalyan, president of Jana Sena party, BJP’s local ally, termed Naidu’s arrest as ‘political vendetta’. “The state government is resorting to midnight arrests without any proof. We have seen how this government behaved with Jana Sena Party in Visakhapatnam in October last year. Jana Sena condemns the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu,” he said in a video message.

Naidu’s wife visits Durga temple

Meanwhile, Naidu’s wife Bhuvaneswari said she prayed to Goddess Durga to protect her husband, who is fighting for the people of the state. “I request all of you to stand by Naidu as he is fighting for all of you,” she told media.

Condemning the police action, AP BJP president Daggubati Purandeswari said the TDP leader was arrested without prior notice and his name was not mentioned in the FIR. Further, she said due procedure was not followed as Naidu’s explanation was not sought.

Meanwhile, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, advisor to the state government, defended the police action, saying notice need not be served before making an arrest in economic offences. Speaking to reporters, he said there is strong evidence linking Naidu to the ‘scam’.

Cadres stage protest

Several TDP leaders including former minister and MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao were taken into preventive custody by the police in Visakhapatnam following the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu.

TDP cadres staged protests condemning the arrest of their leader and raised slogans against the ruling YSRCP. Naidu’s convoy was stopped at Chilakaluripet constituency after the cadre came out in large numbers and blocked the road, protesting against his arrest.

After the CID announced that they would produce Naidu in the ACB court in Vijayawada, a large number of TDP cadres gathered at the court premises, protesting for their leader’s release