Telugu Desam Party President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu faced the wrath of Dalit groups at Yerragondapalem in the Ongole district on Friday for comments made by his son Lokesh during his Yuvagalam padayatra recently.
Members of several Dalit groups, led by senior YSRC leader and minister Adimulapu Suresh, staged black flag demonstrations and released black balloons, besides raising slogans like "Dalita Drohi Chandrababu."
They demanded that Chandrababu Naidu apologize to SCs before visiting the district. The cause for the protests was the objectionable remarks made by his son Nara Lokesh last week.
Suresh, who led the demonstrations, said that Chandrababu Naidu had done little for the district and that it was the Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led government that completed the Veligonda project. He said the protests were made in a peaceful manner.
Suresh warned that Chandrababu Naidu would not be allowed to enter Erragondapalem without offering an apology. However, with the protesters gathering in large numbers, there was tension in Yerragondapalem, prompting the police to deploy additional forces and the NSG to appear on the scene to beef up security for the TDP president.
The situation turned volatile as YSRCP activists created a ruckus, leading to the NSG being alerted, and additional security personnel being deployed for Chandrababu Naidu's safety.
The police took measures to prevent any untoward incidents, and special forces were deployed. Chandrababu Naidu went ahead with his visit, including a roadshow and a public meeting under the banner of 'Idem Karma'.
