TDP general secretary and former minister Nara Lokesh accused the YSRCP government of trying to cover up the suspicious death of another Dalit youth Ajay, while in the excise police custody in Vijayawada. Lokesh alleged that the efforts were being made to cite ill health as the cause behind the death of Ajay.
Telugu Desam Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu urged the people to oppose caste politics and oppression of SCs in the state in a non-violent manner. He lamented attacks on weaker sections and blamed the state government for it. He asked the people to fight caste politics following Gandhian philosophy.
In a statement, Lokesh said that the Dalit youth was called in the name of investigation and was badly beaten up that led to his death eventually. The death happened while Ajay was in the custody of the special enforcement bureau.
Expressing concern over the rising atrocities, the TDP MLC alleged that the Jagan Reddy adopts double-standard while dealing with cases. He said that the government dealt with the case related to the son of Durga Temple Board member differently, while it adopted discriminatory attitude towards the Dalit youth though they faced the same charges.
He said that Dalits were being persecuted now. “Just for not wearing a mask, Dalit youth Kiran Kumar was beaten to death. For asking for masks, Dalit Dr. Sudhakar was beaten and branded as an insane person.” “Just for protesting against illegal sand transportation, Dalit youth Vara Prasad was called and tonsured at the police station. The Dalits will teach a fitting lesson to the YCP when the opportunity comes.”
Lanka Dinakar of BJP told The Daily Guardian, “Atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Andhra Pradesh are rising since the inception of the Jagan-led YSRCP government. We have seen rapes, and physical attacks against people belonging to the SC category.” “Where is Rahul Gandhi, when a huge number of cases of atrocities against women and SCs have been registered in Andhra Pradesh after Rajasthan?