The YSRCP government is creating an impression that if any leader wants to stay in TDP, he or she will have to prepare themselves to face all kinds of harassment. The latest episode of TDP former MLA Peela Govind is seen as another example of vendetta politics
Rather than taking action against the alleged irregularities or violations by opposition leaders, Jagan’s government seems to be intent on creating a fear psychosis among opposition leaders. To have the maximum impact, the government has been striking when they are more vulnerable, mostly when they are sick. Former minister K Atchannaidu was arrested while he was recovering from a surgery, and was made to travel for hours. Because of these actions by authorities, he had also contracted the Coronavirus. On the same lines, the government appears to be harassing another TDP leader and former Anakapalle MLA, Peela Govinda Satyanarayana. The officials suddenly woke up one day and found out that Govind had built a wall a quarter century ago violating the norms and tried to pull it down.
Encroached 25 years back!
Officials have been working overtime to get a pat on the back from the ruling party leaders. Peela Govind served as Anakapalle MLA and his brother Peela Srinivas was TDP state organising secretary. Now Govind has been hospitalized with corona. At this juncture, ruling party leaders along with officials reached his residence on September 24 (Thursday) night and told the family that the compound wall of their house was on encroached land and it had to be razed.
Govind’s brother Srinivas asked the authorities to provide documents in support of the allegation and also pointed out that no notice had been served over the alleged encroachment. As locals too objected to the demolition at night, the officials left and returned on Friday morning. His brother Srinivas questioned the rationale behind the move on the pretext of encroachment 25 years after the construction of the wall. He also wondered how the officials can demolish the wall without following due procedure like serving the notice, that too while the owner is undergoing treatment in hospital and family is concerned with his health. He alleged that this is nothing but political vendetta.
What revenue officials say?
Revenue officials claim that Peela Govind occupied 6 cents of government land while constructing his house. After finding out about the encroachment after 20 years, they surveyed the land on September 24 and marked the portion built on occupied land for demolition.
It is believed that the objective of the YSRCP government is to intimidate TDP leaders to force them to join the ruling party. It is alleged that the government is going ahead as per a plan to target the TDP leaders one after the other.