TDP hits back at DGP Gautam Sawang; Says no authority to advise Naidu

Amaravati: The Telugu Desam Party spokesman, Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram, on 29 September, slammed Andhra Pradesh director-general of police Gautam Sawang and alleged that instead of taking action against criminals, the DGP was making counter-allegations against the TDP chief and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Mr. Pattabhi demanded the DGP explain why no strict action was taken against the ruling YSRCP leaders responsible for the murder attempt on Dalit judge S. Ramakrishna's brother Ramachandra in Chittoor district. Mr. Naidu had written a letter to the DGP claiming that the attack came a day after the judge had addressed a Dalit Maha Sabha in Vijayawada which had raised doubts over the political intention of the attackers.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Pattabhi said that while Mr. Naidu had raised valid questions in his letter, the DGP had written back asking the TDP chief not to write open letters on such issues. The DGP has no authority to give such advice since it is Mr. Naidu's duty as the Opposition leader to fight for justice for the victims of attacks and atrocities all over the state, the TDP leader said. If Mr. Sawang is interested in such political replies, he should also write letters to YSRCP MP Vijayasai Reddy, ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao (Nani), and others for making wild allegations in their letters in the past, he added.

Mr. Pattabhi appealed to the DGP not to mortgage the self-respect of the police force to the Chief Minister's Tadepalli residence. It is because of the irresponsible and partisan attitude of top cops that lower-level officers like SI Durga Rao had to meet untimely deaths despite maintaining their integrity in their line of duty, he alleged. “Just like the three lions that went missing from the Kanaka Durga sacred chariot, the three lions on the DGP's police cap have also gone missing. Probably, they were already mortgaged to the CM's Tadepalli residence,” he said.

The TDP leader asked why Mr. Sawang was not able to initiate stringent action against minister Kodali Nani for his inflammatory comments that had hurt the sentiments of a section of people. “Unfortunately, the DGP was claiming that attacks on temples took place during the TDP regime, also. Instead of taking action, Mr. Sawang was finding excuses to let the culprits go unpunished,” he said, adding that the previous TDP regime had acted swiftly to curb attacks on temples, churches, and mosques.

Mr. Pattabhi demanded the DGP at least act now and file cases against Kodali Nani under Section 153 A for causing enmity along religious lines, under Section 295 for insulting religious sentiments of devotees, and under Section 295 A for insulting a group of people with malicious intent. The minister should be arrested for committing non-bailable cognizable offenses, he added. Gautam Sawang