The internal rift between YSRCP leaders which had blown out earlier this week, following controversial remarks against late Kapu leader Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga and his brother Radha Krishna, by the party's trade union leader Gowtham Reddy, continued to create ripples in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Gowtham Reddy allegedly said in an interview to a local channel that the two brothers were 'snakes', and that there was "nothing wrong in killing" the duo.
This led to his immediate suspension, even as Mohana Ranga’s son, Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, and his mother, were taken into preventive custody when they tried to hold a press conference.
The police had cited law and order concerns as the reason for detaining them.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu referred to the controversy and accused the YSRCP of creating ‘law and order issues’, due to an internal party rift.
Naidu said, "This will be the scene if people with criminal history enter into politics.”
He also accused the YSRCP of hindering the state’s development by creating communal tensions among the people in the name of caste, religion and region.
Following the whole episode, Radhakrishna held a press conference on Wednesday, where he issued a stern warning to the people who criticised Ranga.
“Ranga fans will never remain silent even if some useless fellow makes such comments,” he warned.
He also accused the police of using excessive force while detaining him and his mother.
Responding to Naidu's claims, Radhakrishna asked if the Chief Minister had instructed the police to treat him and his mother harshly.
Addressing Naidu, he said, "If he is really concerned about the law and order situation, he should probe the way they dragged us on the road without even having a single women constable present, thereby breaking the Supreme Court guidelines.”
While welcoming the YSRCP’s decision to suspend Gowtham Reddy, he also asked Naidu to first take action against his own party men, who were breaking the law, and attacking officials.
Responding to the CM’s ‘communal tension’ remark, Radhakrishna said that he wanted to address media persons, to pacify Ranga’s supporters.
“No one in their senses will hold a press meet to instigate violence,” he said.