Jagan accuses Naidu govt of using police machinery to suppress dissent

YSRCP supremo Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of using the police machinery as a political tool to suppress dissent, curb freedom of speech, and target political opponents. However, TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy on Saturday countered the allegation, saying Jagan had suppressed dissent and used the police system as a political tool to target opponents and silence critics during the then YSRCP regime (2019-2024). Although Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, described as ''one of the most sacred and non-negotiable pillars of democracy,'' Jagan alleged that this fundamental right is being subjected to a dangerous, systematic, and deeply disturbing assault under the TDP-led coalition government. ''Hello India! AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been using the police department as a political tool to curb dissent, suppress opposition voices, and systematically curtail freedom of speech in Andhra Pradesh,'' Jagan claimed in a post on X late on Friday. According to Jagan, the Andhra police machinery is increasingly being ''weaponised'' to intimidate critics, silence opposition voices, and create an atmosphere of fear among citizens who question the government. He alleged a systematic campaign of political vendetta, authoritarian intimidation, and institutional ''misuse of power'' against social media activists, YSRCP supporters, journalists, and ordinary citizens who expose what he called the ''failures, hypocrisy, corruption, and anti-people governance'' of the TDP coalition. Jagan claimed the modus operandi has become ''frighteningly clear and predictable,'' beginning with TDP leaders and their supporters ''continuously filing politically motivated complaints'' against social media posts, videos, comments, and opinions critical of the government. He alleged that acting on these complaints, police register cases, invoke questionable legal provisions, file FIRs, and initiate coercive action against dissenting voices. The alleged ''misuse of power,'' he said, extends to police sending notices to social media platform X and other platforms, seeking removal or blocking of content critical of the government. ''This coordinated censorship campaign clearly demonstrates how the Naidu government is using the police department as its political enforcement machinery,'' Jagan alleged. He further said the government appears ''insecure, intolerant, vindictive, and deeply authoritarian,'' and is ''terrified of criticism, accountability, transparency, and public scrutiny.'' Jagan also alleged that the ruling alliance's ecosystem spreads ''toxic misinformation, character assassination campaigns, abusive trolling, hate-driven narratives, and malicious attacks'' against YSRCP leaders, while complaints against them are ''conveniently ignored.'' ''No action, no FIRs, no accountability. This shocking double standard and misuse of state machinery represent a grave attack on democratic values,'' he alleged. He said democracy cannot survive where fear replaces freedom and criticism is criminalised, and demanded that the government stop abusing police powers and targeting opposition voices. Responding to Jagan's allegations, Deepak Reddy said the former CM was speaking about democracy, freedom of expression, and misuse of police machinery, while ''people of Andhra Pradesh have not forgotten what happened during his five-year rule.'' He alleged that during the YSRCP government, filing cases against opposition leaders, activists, journalists, and citizens was a common practice. TDP leaders and workers frequently faced politically motivated cases, arrests, detentions, and restrictions on protests, he alleged. He also claimed that even social media posts or comments critical of the government led to police action, including CID cases and arrests. Deepak Reddy further alleged that several youth, women, YouTubers, and independent voices faced harassment for questioning government policies. He also claimed that social media accounts linked to YSRCP targeted opposition leaders with abusive content and misinformation between 2019 and 2024. Despite repeated complaints from TDP leaders, police action was either delayed or absent, he alleged, adding that this reflected selective enforcement of the law.

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