Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 2 (HBTV): Former Andhra Pradesh minister and YSR Congress Party leader Jogi Ramesh’s house was vandalised and set on fire in Ibrahimpatnam, Vijayawada, amid rising political tensions in the state.
According to sources, a large mob ransacked the premises, damaged household articles and torched parts of the house, triggering panic in the locality on Sunday. Local residents said the attackers appeared organised and left behind widespread destruction.
YSRCP leaders alleged that Jogi Ramesh, described as a prominent BC leader, was deliberately targeted and claimed the incident reflected a pattern of political intimidation.
‘Back-to-back attacks on former ministers within two days point to a complete breakdown of law and order and reflect a pattern of political intimidation,’ YSRCP leaders said.
The incident comes a day after the house and office of former minister Ambati Rambabu were allegedly attacked by a group of Telugu Desam Party workers. Ambati Rambabu has since been remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody over alleged remarks against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
YSRCP leaders condemned the attack on Ambati Rambabu, accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of being responsible for ‘violence and lawlessness’ in the state.
YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajeev Gandhi said, ‘We strongly condemn the murder attempt on YSRCP senior leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is directly responsible for this violence and lawlessness in the state. I want to ask him whether murder attempts and violence are the only answers you want to give to whoever dares to question the conspiracy and failures of your government.’
‘Instead of apologising to the crores of Hindu devotees, he has chosen intimidation. TDP workers and armed attackers attacked Ambati Rambabu’s residence,’ he added.
YSRCP national spokesperson Karthik Yellapragada termed the attack on Ambati Rambabu a ‘brutal murder attempt’ and alleged that it occurred with the ‘full consent’ of the ruling TDP leadership.
‘We strongly condemn the brutal murder attempt on our senior YSRCP leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu. We saw shocking visuals where Ambati was being arrested even as his house was being vandalised and burned live. This happened in front of the public and under the nose of the state government. This is not a random act of violence. It has taken place with the full consent and direction of the leadership,’ he said.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, however, rejected the allegations and accused the YSRCP of ‘resorting to abuse out of desperation’.
‘The criminalisation of politics has been the core culture of the YSRCP, and lawlessness was a hallmark of its tenure. We established the rule of law in 2024. Our culture is empowerment and service to the people. Even in opposition, they are resorting to abuse out of desperation as they are being exposed with each passing day. We will not allow anyone to violate the rule of law,’ he said. (ANI)