The arrest of two social media activists of CBN Army, a pro-Telugu Desam Party outfit, by the Guntur police, for allegedly posting abusive comments against YSR Congress party MP and general secretary V Vijay Sai Reddy, has evoked strong protests from the opposition party.
TDP general secretary and MLC Nara Lokesh, who has been desperately trying to project himself as a future chief of the party, came down heavily on Guntur (urban) superintendent of police Ammi Reddy for illegally detaining the two social media activists – M V Mahesh Babu and M Sai Kalyan.
The SP told reporters that the two were arrested following a complaint from YSRCP student wing president of Guntur parliamentary constituency Panuganti Chaitanya.
He said investigations had proved that the duo had uploaded videos making abusive and filthy comments against Vijay Sai Reddy.
However, Lokesh took strong exception to the manner in which the social media activists were arrested, as if they were international terrorists.
“Do youn have any shame, Mr Ammi Reddy? You should explain why the same cases were not filed and the same treatment was not given to those who were posting nasty videos against the TDP,” he asked.
He wondered why the police had file reverse cases against the TDP leaders who came to file complaints against Minister Seediri Appala Raju.
“Mr Ammi Reddy should not wear khaki uniform any more if he wanted to continue to serve the YSRCP,” Lokesh said.
Meanwhile, Lokesh’s father and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday wrote a letter to AP Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang, condemning the 'illegal detention' of activists Mahesh and Kalyan without any prior notice.
He said the arrests were in gross violations of the High-Powered Committee proceedings based on the Supreme Court. Pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court.
“The SP paraded the two victims with their faces covered in front of the media. Such press meets were held only to create fear and deter people from raising their voices on any injustice,” Naidu criticized.
