Why is YSRCP worried about my visit to Palasa?: questions Lokesh

Visakhapatnam: TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh and a few party leaders, including Chinna Rajappa and Kala Venkata Rao, were taken into police custody on 21 August in Srikakulam. The TDP leaders were on their way to Palasa in Srikakulam district to console TDP leaders and activists who were allegedly being harassed by minister for animal husbandry Sidiri Appala Raju and to attend a marriage.

Nara Lokesh was later released and dropped at the Vizag airport but he sat down at the airport and refused to go back.

According to sources, the police stopped Lokesh's vehicle while he was travelling to Palasa and did not allow him to go further. The TDP leaders got into a discussion with the police and the police took them into custody and took them to KR Puram police station in Etcherla. "I would have just spoken to my leaders in Palasa, attended a wedding, and returned. Am I a terrorist? Why are the YSRCP leaders so worried about my visit to Palasa? Can YSRCP leaders tell me what developments are being taken up by Appala Raju?" questioned Nara Lokesh.

He added, "We have been fighting for people's rights for the last three years, but there has been no response from the YSRCP. Whenever TDP leaders oppose the ruling party, they bring down their JCB to destroy our properties. It seems like YSRCP are brand ambassadors of the JCB."

What happened in Palasa?

For the last few weeks, TDP and YSRCP leaders have been fighting over revenue officials conducting demolition drives against illegal buildings that have been constructed on government lands, including lands of poor people in Palasa, Srikakulam district. Two days ago, revenue officials tried to demolish the house of TDP leader Suryanarayana in ward 27. At that time, several TD leaders tried to stop the demolition. Following this, YSRCP called out for a protest and siege the Telugu Desam Party office.