Ruckus during Jagan’s Raptadu visit a pre-planned drama, says Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha

Ruckus during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Raptadu visit a pre-planned drama, says Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha. Refuting YSRCP’s allegations of security lapses, she says there will be an inquiry into the entire episode. The Home Minister lashes out at the former Chief Minister for using derogatory language against the police personnel.

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V. Anitha on Wednesday dismissed the YSR Congress Party’s (YSRCP) allegations of security lapses during its president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tour to Ramagiri mandal of Raptadu Assembly constituency in Sri Sathya Sai district on Tuesday.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy went to console the family members of K. Lingamaiah, who had allegedly been murdered by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists in Ramagiri mandal.

The YSRCP leaders alleged that the State government failed to provide security to the former Chief Minister. They further alleged that a few parts of the helicopter Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy used were damaged, following which he had to take the road route to return to Bengaluru.

Refuting the allegations while addressing the media here, Ms. Anitha termed the entire episode as “pre-planned drama” enacted by the YSRCP.

“Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy is only an MLA. He is not even Leader of Opposition. He being a former Chief Minister, and keeping in view that Ramgiri is a sensitive area, we have deployed about 1,100 police personnel. Of them, 250 personnel have been positioned at the helipad. The police have also used body-worn cameras. Rope parties, public addressing systems, fire tenders, drones, ambulances, gas cans too have been put in place as a precautionary measure,” she said.

Ms. Anitha said that the district police had on April 7 advised the YSRCP leaders to ensure proper barricading in the view of the sensitivity of area. The police left no stone unturned in ensuring complete security arrangements, she added.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy landed at around 11.04 a.m. Though hundreds of supporters rushed to the helipad, the police safely escorted him to the car and then to the victim’s residence, Ms. Anitha said.