Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has found himself in the middle of a controversy yet again, this time not for his tireless tirade against the union government, but for threatening temple barbers who were on strike.
A video of the incident, which took place at the state Secretariat in Amaravati, has since gone viral.
The episode took place after a meeting between Deputy CM KE Krishna Murthy with Nayee Brahmin Committee members and officials over the strike by barbers who work in temples across the state.
Thousands of barbers working in temples across the state are on strike demanding a fixed wage of Rs 13,000 and provident fund facilities.
According to media reports, people besides the committee members of the barber community arrived at the Secretariat and raised slogans on seeing the Chief Minister’s convoy.
Naidu, on seeing the barbers, stopped the convoy and got down to ‘discipline’ them.
“I will give respect if you give respect. If you play games like this, I will be very serious. There is a method for everything. You can’t dictate to governments. I thought of giving you respect, but you are coming to the Secretariat and doing whatever you wish. If you ever do this ever again, I will take you all to task,” Naidu is seen saying in the video.
“This is also a temple of the people. You don’t come here again. Be careful,” he added.
As a representative of the barbers association tried to intervene, Naidu said, “What are you saying? You’re not allowed to talk. Are you going to shout like that? Is this a fish market?”
One protestor can be heard saying, “Sir, you gave hike to VRAs (Village Revenue Assistant) and Home Guards. Give hike to us as well.”
This only seemed to irk Naidu more, who asked his security officials to move away and began pointing fingers at the person who spoke. “You do whatever you people can do. I won’t say anything. Whom are you threatening?”
As the person replied that they were not there to threaten, Naidu asked, “Which village are you from? You know I ruled for 9 years and not one person has taken to the road [to protest]. If there is justice in your cause, I will come searching for you, but if someone threatens me, I will cut their tail.”
In what apparently instigated Naidu further, another protester claimed, “This are just wishes only.”
As Naidu threatens them again, security officials can be seen pushing the protesters back. However, Naidu says, “Don’t stop them. Let them come freely. I will talk to them. Let me see what they do.”
The Chief Minister’s behaviour has not gone down well with a section of the barbers who were on strike.
Sources from media who were at present at the spot claimed that the CM asked officials details about how many people came into the Secretariat and on whose reference.
Watch the video below.