War of words between Telugu Desam, YSRC, over fire incident

VIJAYAWADA: The Telugu Desam and the YSRC have started a blame game over the incident of fields being set on fire in the capital region. Leaders of both parties are blaming the other party and the war of words is threatening to escalate.

State agriculture minister P. Pulla Rao on Monday targeted Opposition lead Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and alleged that he was behind the incident to stop the land pooling process in the villages in the capital region.

Nara Lokesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s son, too alleged that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and YSRC leaders were behind the incident.

YSRC leaders, meanwhile, hit out at TD leaders. Former minister K. Pardha Saradhi and Ambati Rambabu said that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was behind the incident.

They alleged that the CM was encouraging undemocratic ways of encroaching on the land of the farmers. They also demanded a serious probe into the issue.

Jana Chaitanya Vedika state president V. Lakshman Reddy demanded that Mr Pulla Rao withdraw his remarks against Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy or they would take legal action against him. He asked how the minister could make such comments when a police enquiry was underway.

This war of words between the leaders might spill over to the villagers, creating differences among them, said Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samiti convener K. Sivaji. He said that the villagers would also start seeing each other as the culprits.

YSRC leaders have announced that they will visit the villages in the capital region in the backdrop of the incident. Meanwhile, YSRC MLA A. Ramakrishna Reddy and several TD leaders including P. Pulla Rao visited the villages on Monday.

However, these visits may make the situation volatile, said B. Nagesh, a native of Penumaka village.