You Can’t Spin Everything Mr. Naidu  

By Sadhana Seelam

I can't help but compare two separate reactions to violence and attempts at violence against political luminaries. In recent days in America, there have been a spate of pipe bombs sent through the United States Postal Service to political luminaries aligned with the Democratic Party.

Despite some ill-chosen initial remarks by President Donald Trump, perhaps due to his chronic lack of civility, perhaps due to his poor grasp of the English language, when the culprit, Cesar Sayoc was apprehended and charged with the crime by the FBI, even Trump, the 'Inelegant One,' issued a half-decent statement. He managed to issue commiserations and denounce the attempts by anyone to undermine the underlying principles of democracy by indulging in acts of potential violence towards people with opposing views.

Not so Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. His directives were clearly expressed in the initial statement of the DGP, stating that the attack against Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and YSRCP President, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was that of a fan gone amuck. CBN has always operated under the premise that the general public is so ignorant that he can show them a white wall, claim that it's green and sure enough, people will believe him.

It's hardly surprising that when Srinivasa Rao committed this crime, lunging at the leader of the YSRCP with the aim of fatally harming him, Naidu would throw attacker Srinivasa Rao under the bus, disown him and his loyalty to TDP and flip the facts to state that he was a YS Jagan fan acting in a bizarre, un-fanlike manner, to assault someone he supposedly 'worshipped.'

Added to that, there were purported pamphlets and other materials found on the person of the attacker in pristine condition. Since when have pant and shirt pockets been made to fit letter size paper? Is this the state of the 'investigation' that people are expected to believe?

The elections in AP are still a few months away. But judging by CBN's early ploy, it seems like he and his party will stop at nothing in their quest for power and, having nothing to show for his party's re-election with the masses, has hatched a plan to rid themselves of their chief opposition leader who seems clearly positioned to win the next election.

This cowardly act does nothing but reinforce the fact that YS Jagan's unambiguous message of hope for the people of Andhra Pradesh is unnerving to CBN and TDP as a whole. The YSRCP chief's message of inclusion to all the citizens of AP, not just those who support him, his aim to build a state on the pillars of courage and truth that he learned from his father, shines a light on the deceptions and inadequacies of TDP. AP could still be blessed with redemption by electing YSRCP to power and enabling YS Jagan to become the next Chief Minister.

CBN and his cohorts can try to harm the YSR Congress Party chief, but they can never quell the victory that comes from adhering to values wrought from a genuine love for the people YS Jagan hopes to govern and serve. Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, deemed one of India's most successful Chief Ministers, proves that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Also Read: A Brief History of Chandrababu’s Political Chicanery

The author is a US based columnist.