Jagan Mohan Reddy to Visit Palnadu Despite Restrictions, Accuses Govt of Political Targeting
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to visit Palnadu district on June 18 to console the grieving family of party functionary and deputy sarpanch Nagamalleswara Rao, who allegedly died by suicide due to police harassment.
Despite reported restrictions imposed by law enforcement authorities, Jagan Mohan Reddy has resolved to proceed with his visit to Rentapalla village in Sattenapalli mandal. He will travel by road from his residence in Tadepalli, Amaravati, and also unveil a statue of Nagamalleswara Rao during his visit.YSRCP leaders have strongly condemned what they call deliberate attempts by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government to obstruct the visit. The party accused the state administration of misusing the police force to create hurdles, citing security concerns as a pretext.
Former minister Vidadala Rajini, along with senior party leaders Kasu Mahesh Reddy, Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy, and Gajjala Sudheer Bhargav Reddy, met with the Superintendent of Police in Palnadu to protest the restrictions. They highlighted that the police are allowing only 100 people to accompany the former Chief Minister, a limitation they argue is politically motivated.
“Jagan Mohan Reddy will meet the bereaved family, with or without permission. He stands by his commitment and will not be deterred,” the leaders said. “If necessary, he will go alone, but the visit will happen as planned.”
The leaders also asserted that it would be impossible to restrict public participation, as YS Jagan continues to enjoy strong grassroots support. “The government is clearly afraid of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s popularity,” they alleged.
The Palnadu police reportedly cited security risks in light of the recent stone-pelting incident during Jagan’s visit to Prakasam district. The YSRCP leader had gone to Podili to interact with tobacco farmers who have been struggling with pricing issues.
Following the incident, Jagan accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of inciting the attack. In a statement on social media platform ‘X’, he said, “Over 40,000 farmers and locals joined me in solidarity. To divert attention from the core issue, Chandrababu Naidu conspired to send a small group of TDP workers to provoke violence. Thankfully, the public maintained restraint.”
The Palnadu visit marks a continued effort by Jagan Mohan Reddy to remain connected with rural communities and challenge what the YSRCP describes as the high-handed tactics of the current state government.