TD blames minister Suresh for Yerragondapalem violence

TIRUPATI: Telugu Desam leaders have squarely blamed municipal administration minister Audimulapu Suresh for the spate of incidents including stone pelting at TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s convoy in which some TD workers and security got injured.

Specifically, they have pointed to videos of the minister removing his shirt and frontally obstructing Naidu’s convoy. In the video, Suresh is seen mocking TD protesters, flashing his middle finger at them.

Members of Dalit organisations, mostly supporters of minister Suresh and YSRC activists, staged black flag demonstrations and released black balloons protesting against Naidu's convoy passing through Markapuram-Yerragondapalem road on Friday.

They demanded that Naidu apologise to SCs before visiting Yerragondapalem for remarks made by his son Nara Lokesh against Dalits.

TD leaders have accused the minister of mobilising a large number of his supporters in a bid to prevent TD national president N. Chandrababu Naidu from organising his scheduled “Idemi Karma Mana Rashtraniki” programme in Yerragondapalem.

"While Suresh's father rode horses fighting for the self-respect of Dalits, his son removed his shirt and pointed a finger, making Dalits hostage of AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s politics. Admitting his mistake, he should immediately tender unconditional apologies to all Dalits,” TD leader and former minister K.S. Jawahar remarked.

TD politburo member Nakka Anand Babu said it is disgraceful that a minister takes off his shirt and parades down the street. "Can there be democracy in this state when a state minister tries to attack the former chief minister," Anand Babu asked.