Vijayawada: Sharmila, other Congress cadre detained during stir against ‘deceitful’ DSC notification
The APCC called a ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest walk from its office at Andhra Ratna Bhavan on Thursday
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 Feb 2024 10:20 AM GMT
Amaravati: Around 40 Congress party activists in Vijayawada on Thursday were arrested for staging a road roko and raising slogans as part of a planned protest walk to the AP Secretariat, against the recent District Selection Committee (DSC) notification to recruit teachers. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila was also detained during the protest.
The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) called a ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest walk from its office at Andhra Ratna Bhavan on Thursday.
“We have arrested around 40 people (Congress activists) for obstructing traffic and raising slogans on Eluru Road. We have removed them,” said Vijayawada South deputy commissioner of police (DCP) B Ravi Kiran.
#AndhraPradesh police detained @INC_Andhra chief @realyssharmila and other #Congress leaders who were on Chalo Secretariat protest against #YSRCP govt. Sharmila was raising concern over the unemployment issue in the state.
— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) February 22, 2024
She said that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had… pic.twitter.com/xc6YN9xH8c
Sharmila blames YSRCP for unemployment
Sharmila blamed the YSRCP government for arresting Congress party members while the party was taking a stand for unemployed youths. She demanded that the YSRCP apologise to unemployed people as it reportedly promised 23,000 jobs but notified only around 6,000 in the DSC notification.
“Under the autocratic rule of YSRCP, people are being arrested when they are questioning the deceitful DSC. Thousands of police have been deployed around us with barricades, giving an impression that we are captives,” the APCC president said in a post on X.
Later, addressing a press conference, Sharmila said that police have been on high alert for the past two days to restrict Congress party leaders and activists ahead of the ‘Chalo secretariat’.
“What is our mistake? What is our sin? Are we thieves or bandits? What is the need for the government to restrict us? If you (the YSRCP government) have really performed well then why are you fearing a protest from us?” asked Sharmila. She demanded a mega DSC notification with 30,000 teacher jobs and a job calendar.
What is the AP CM so scared of?
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) February 22, 2024
The detention of APCC President @realyssharmila ji is highly condemnable and shows that the BJP-controlled AP Government is scared of a genuine opposition rising up against their misrule.
The people of AP have suffered from unemployment and a… pic.twitter.com/4okHnouEc3
