National President of the TDP, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has condemned the arrest of former chairman of the MLA and the Sangam Dairy, Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar.
“The arrest is illegal. It is part of the larger conspiracy to destroy Sangam Dairy, ”Naidu claimed in a statement Friday.
Mr Naidu also alleged that the former MLA was arrested without notice. “It is clear that the state government is determined to hand over Sangam Dairy to the Gujarat-based Amul. The local dairies are being deliberately crippled to help Amul, ”the TDP president claimed.
“Mr. Narendra has done Sangam Dairy a valuable service as chairman. The local farmers are shareholders of the dairy. Since YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was appointed chief minister, there has been a systematic attack on all companies and dairies in the state,” he claimed.
Mr. Naidu demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Narendra and also the withdrawal of the “false cases” against him.
“The government should put its political agenda aside and protect Sangam Dairy and the interests of thousands of dependent farmers,” he said.
“Nothing has developed in the last two years. The repression of opposition leaders continues unabated. The illegal arrests of TDP leaders are only part of the YSRCP tactic to divert popular attention from the massive corruption in the government. Party leaders K. Atchannaidu and Kollu Ravindra have been wrongly arrested in the past. Devineni Umamaheswara Rao is also in his sights now, ”he said.