YS Sharmila Arrested Amid Tensions Over Capital Region Visit
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila was arrested by Vijayawada police and sent to Hyderabad from Gannavaram Airport on Wednesday, following her attempt to visit Uddandarayunipalem — the site where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had originally laid the foundation stone for the Amaravati capital project.
YS Sharmila had announced her intention to tour the capital region, sparking tensions and prompting the police to place her under house arrest in Gannavaram early in the day. Defying the restriction, she later arrived at the AP Congress headquarters, Andhra Ratna Bhavan, where she launched a protest with party leaders, condemning what she described as the undemocratic actions of the state government and police.
As the protest gained momentum, workers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed the Congress office, claiming that YS Sharmila had made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The situation quickly escalated as BJP cadres pelted eggs at the office and shouted slogans demanding a public apology from her.
In response, Congress workers rallied in support of their leader, engaging in a heated verbal exchange with BJP activists. The standoff intensified until police intervened to prevent further violence, detaining several BJP workers who attempted to breach the Congress office premises.
To de-escalate the situation, police arrested YS Sharmila at the scene and transported her to Gannavaram Airport under tight security. She was subsequently flown to Hyderabad.
The incident has highlighted growing political tensions in the lead-up to key public engagements in the Amaravati region, particularly surrounding the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi and the renewed focus on capital development in Andhra Pradesh.
