TDP, YSRCP indulge in slugfest over stampede deaths
While the ruling party blamed TDP for holding meetings at narrow lanes, the opposition slammed YSRCP for not providing adequate security
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: A political slugfest has taken the centre stage with the speculation fuelled in various quarters over likely scenario for the Assembly elections due in Andhra Pradesh in June, 2024 over death of 11 persons in two stampedes caused at meetings addressed by TDP national president and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in less than a week.
While eight persons died at the TDP roadshow at Kandukur in Nellore district on December 28, on the New Year three women died in another stampede at a function after an address by Naidu. The Guntur meeting was held by the Vuyyuru Foundation where Janata clothes and Sankranti Kanuka (Pongal gift) were distributed among the poor. The stampede reportedly caused the following collapse of the barricade due to surging crowds. Naidu, who left after addressing the gathering as the chief guest, was not present when the incident occurred.
YSRCP leader and former Minister Kodali Nani squarely blamed the TDP for holding meetings at narrow lanes to give an impression that Naidu was attracting huge crowds. He said his publicity craze was leading to frequent accidents, adding that the TDP leader wanted to create an impression that he will form the government in 2024.
Refuting, the TDP charge that government failure to provide adequate security and arrangements at the Leader of Opposition's meetings had led to the two stampedes in quick succession, he said if more police forces were deployed or curbs imposed for the gathering, TDP would have blamed the government terming it as political interference out of jealousy.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the dead, expressed shock over the incidents. He also found fault with Naidu's publicity stunts for the death of innocent people.
Health Minister V Vanita, after visiting the injured at the Guntur Government General Hospital, said TDP is deliberately holding meetings in narrow lanes to give an impression that large gatherings are attending the roadshows exposing the crowds to a stampede-type atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the Nallapadu Police Station in Guntur has registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the organisers. Vuyyuru Srinivas, the main organiser of the event, said several NRIs came forward to fund the programme to distribute sarees and ration to the poor on the eve of Pongal.
TDP State president K Atchan Naidu said the meetings were organised after obtaining due permission from the police. He said it was the responsibility of the police to make adequate arrangements and to know about the likely turnout and suspected that there could be a conspiracy in not making adequate bandobast so as to give scope to untoward incidents to defame the Leader of the Opposition.
