Tension gripped Kadapa’s Pedda Dandluru village on Sunday as the supporters of Minister of Marketing and Warehousing, Adinarayana Reddy’s allegedly ransacked a wedding party hosted by a YSRCP leader.
The police was quick to act, and detained those trying to disrupt the proceedings. YSRCP MP YS Avinash Reddy was set to attend the event, but the police have barred him and some YSRCP leaders from entering the village. TDP MLC Rama Subba Reddy was also not allowed to enter into the village.
Last month, G Azaraiah, a local YSRCP leader’s son got married, and while Avinash Reddy was invited, he could not attend it. Azaraiah then arranged for the MP to come to Pedda Dandluru to bless the couple. Supporters of the TDP Minister warned Azaraiah not to invite the MP to the village, but he went ahead and made arrangements.
YSRCP workers erected a tent and set the stage for the programme. However, Adinarayana’s supporters barged in, pulled the tent down and broke chairs. According to local media reports, they even damaged a car parked outside the venue, apart from attacking Guvvala Srinivasa Reddy, Guvvala Rama Subba Reddy and Guvvala Savitri with sticks.
The police intervened, and to prevent any more violence, barred the YSRCP leaders from entering the village.
Avinash Reddy, speaking to media following the attack, said the minister was abusing his power. “He must remember his power and remember that the police will not always be on his side,” he added.
He also said, “I was visiting the village based on an invitation, and being a Member of Parliament, I have the right to go to any village in my constituency. I condemn the police action too, for they stopped me from entering the village.”
TNM’s efforts to reach the Jammalamadugu police for a comment have failed.
Meanwhile, on 6 June, Adinarayana is set to hold a meeting in Kadapa, for which Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu too has been invited. Jammalamadugu’s YSRCP in-charge has, however, said that his party will ensure the meeting does not take place. “Stop us if you can, but this meeting won’t take place,” he said.