Ambati rules out GO-1 rollback, says Naidu flocking to Kuppam out of fear

AMARAVATI :Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu defended the GO-1 on Friday, saying it was intended to protect the public and regulate gatherings, not to stifle the state's opposition parties.

In a media briefing here on Friday, he said that the government would not roll back the GO, which would apply to all political parties, including the YSR Congress Party. It was also intended to streamline the conduct of all political parties' public meetings and rallies in order to avoid a repeat of the stampedes that occurred in Kandukuru and Guntur.

He drew a comparison between YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's Odarpu Yatra and Chandrababu's rallies, saying that while the former's programme was conducted in a systematic and disciplined manner, the latter's rallies were chaotic and unorganised, resulting in stampedes.

Taking a jab at TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu for violating the orders in Kuppam, he said that Chandrababu Naidu unnecessarily created a commotion and provoked his party cadre to rebel against the police, which is highly deplorable. The Minister questioned why he was not learning from previous stampede deaths during Godavari Pushkaralu.

He also claimed that Naidu was frequently visiting Kuppam, fearful of defeat. The opposition leader, who does not even have a vote or a house in Kuppam and has no achievements to speak of, was now using emotional blackmail to gain political mileage. The Chief Minister's vision was to provide administration based on the wishes of the people, not on Naidu and Pawan Kalyan's approval.

Recalling that it was the YSRCP Government that declared Kuppam a revenue division and built a branch canal to meet the people's drinking and irrigation needs, while Naidu was found wanting in development activities.

In response to the Jana Sena's stance on the GO, he stated that Pawan Kalyan, who remained a mute spectator to the stampede deaths in Kandukuru and Guntur, was making unnecessary remarks against the Chief Minister for bringing the GO, which was meant to protect the people and regulate public gatherings.