"The police took away Vijayamma late in the night from the deeksha site, in a private vehicle. They did not even bring an ambulance," complains a YSRCP leader.
Condemning what it called the highhandedness of the police in foiling the deeksha of party honorary president Y S Vijayamma, the YSR Congress has said that it will continue its fight against the Centre's "authoritarian decision" to bifurcate AP.
"We condemn the highhandedness of the police in foiling the indefinite fast of Y S Vijayamma, and the manner in which she was taken to the government hospital. We will continue to fight for demand of status quo being maintained if the Centre cannot do justice to all regions," party official spokesperson Jupudi Prabhakar Rao told reporters on Saturday.
"The police, on instructions from the government, took away Vijayamma late in the night from the deeksha site, on grounds of health, in a private vehicle. They did not even bring an ambulance. This shows that the state has ulteriror motives in foiling the fast of a leader of a political party, who is an MLA, wife of a former chief minister, and mother of an MP.
"At the same time a local leader of the TDP, whose fast was also foiled by the police, was taken in an ambulance. This shows the discrimination of the official machinery," he said.
Vijayamma, whose health is on the slide, was advised by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to give up the fast. Despite her poor health condition, with falling blood pressure and sugar levels leading to renal complications, Vijayamma reportedly wanted to continue to fast at the hospital, but was advised by her son and other leaders to lead the party in the fight against the Centre's decision to bifurcate the state illogically.
"It is time that the Centre knows the sentiments of the people and comes to terms with reality, and thinks in terms of the people's interests instead of harping on cheap politicking," Jupudi said.
"The CWC decision is unilateral and authoritarian, as it gave scant respect to the sentiments of the people. People have rejected the Congress and the TDP, and are with the YSRCP. The state wanted to foil the deeksha at any cost as it fears that if would spread to the entire region.
"That was how Vijayamma's fast was foiled in an undemocratic manner by misuse of official machinery. The police behaved in a highhanded manner," he said.
Jupudi also claimed that the bandh in the region against the police's action has been total, and that it has been receiving a good response.
"While the region is on boil, N Chandrababu Naidu has postponed his proposed yatra as he has no moral courage to face the public, which is enraged over the sentiment of a united state. We wanted the Centre to do justice to all regions and see to it that no region is put to disadvantage before bifurcating the state. If that cannot be done, the UPA has no right to bifurcate the state," he said.
"We have the right to express our protest, and the party is determined to go ahead with its protest against the injustice meted out to one region. I also appeal to all sections of people who respect values to raise their voice against this authoritarian rule," he said. (INN)