False cases booked against peaceful protesters: Ramaiah
Human rights violations rampant under Jagan Reddy rule
AMARAVATI: TDP Politburo Member Varla Ramaiah on Friday urged the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to order a probe into human rights violations and illegal arrests of peaceful protesters in Andhra Pradesh and take stringent action against the officials responsible for the deterioration of law and order in the State.
In a letter sent to the NHRC Chairperson here, Mr. Ramaiah said that the AP Government and the police force were resorting to gross violations of the fundamental rights and Article 19. They were suppressing all voices of dissent and scuttling democracy at every step. If the erring officers were not made accountable to their suppressive actions, they would cause further erosion of democratic values in the State.
The TDP leader said that their party State leadership gave a call for State-wide protests on 28th August 2021 against the steep increase in petrol and diesel prices in Andhra Pradesh. With around Rs. 108 per litre of petrol, the AP State got the highest price in the country. The protests were held in an peaceful manner and duly following the Covid safeguards. They were intended to put pressure on the Government of Andhra Pradesh so that it would reduce the prices of petrol and diesel.
Mr. Ramaiah said that in this backdrop, the ruling party has unleashed police force and accordingly TDP leaders, cadre and general public were arrested, while others were placed under house arrest. Several FIRs were registered against the TDP leaders in the Kotabommali, Dendulur, Pulivendula and Bommanahal police stations. More FIRs were booked in order to threaten people from expressing their dissent in a peaceful manner.
Decrying the Government’s oppressive tactics, Mr. Ramaiah said that in many places not only FIRs were registered under different sections, but some of the leaders were arrested and detained illegally and released later. The police without adhering to the constitution and in violation of democratic norms had illegally detained demonstrators, placed them under house arrests, filed cases and arrested them.
The TDP leader further said: “Police are grossly neglecting and turning a blind eye to the mass gatherings, processions and meetings organised by the ruling YSRCP leaders. The YSRCP-led Government has been using COVID pandemic as an excuse to target and victimise TDP leaders, cadre and sympathisers.”
Mr. Ramaiah expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and growing excesses of the ruling YSRCP and the police force. It is appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to conduct an inquiry and take appropriate action against the people responsible for such callous registering of cases.
Only a quick and prompt action by the NHRC would help in restoring democracy and fundamental rights in general and Article 19 in particular in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
