Allegations of harassment against YSRCP legislator for Nellore (Rural) Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and party spokesperson B Sreekanth has kicked up a political storm in Andhra Pradesh.
A Sarla, a Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) from Nellore district, in a written complaint to the police alleged that Sridhar Reddy and Sreekanth disconnected water, power and television connections to her residence.
Sarla alleged that Sreekanth had sought water connections to a layout at Anikepalli in Venkatachalam mandal in Nellore district earlier in the week. The MPDO informed him that the administration would be able to grant a connection only after an enquiry and sought additional time as all mandal level officers were busy setting up village secretariats.
However, she said that she again received a call from Sreekanth, who then made her speak to MLA Sridhar Reddy. Over the call, Sarla alleged that the MLA threatened her that she had to provide water connection to the layout within two days, reported Deccan Chronicle.
Speaking to media persons, Sarla claimed that the MLA and the party spokesperson even visited her residence and threatened her mother. “They disconnected the power before coming. The MLA abused my mother using foul language. He told her that we would not get power, water and cable connection till his work was done. They also placed a garbage bin before my house,” she reportedly alleged.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took a serious view of the allegations of misuse of power against the party MLA and spokesperson. The CM directed DGP Gautham Sawang not to hesitate to take action against those involved provided there was evidence.
The Nellore (Rural) Police have booked a case against Sridhar Reddy under sections 448 (house-trespass), 506 (criminal intimidation), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees and upwards) and 290 (public nuisance) of IPC.
Sridhar Reddy has refuted the allegations against him and said that the application for water connection was given three months ago but no work was done.
The MLA said that Sarla told him that she was asked by Sarvepalle MLA Kakani Govardhan Reddy, also from the YSRCP, not to provide the water connection till he agreed to it. “I contacted Govardhan Reddy, who said he would discuss the issue later, but has not contacted me till now,” he explained.
Former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu took to Twitter to lambast the YSRCP. “The same MLA previously threatened to kill a Muslim journalist over the phone. This is the same MLA who had previously attacked the editor of the Zamin Ryot paper. He misbehaved with a woman doctor. Would this have happened if the government took action then?” tweeted Naidu.
Nara Lokesh, MLC and TDP general secretary, tweeted: “You were elected to be the CM of all Andhra Pradesh @ysjagan Garu. This includes civil servants, government officials, and all the people of the state, not just YCP workers and leaders. What action will you take on your MLA? Will Sarala get justice?”
The TDP even floated a Twitter hashtag #JaganRowdyRajyam.