The BJP called the move to install a statue of Tipu Sultan in Proddatur “unconstitutional” and accused the YSRCP MLA Rachamallu Sivaprasad Reddy of resorting to appeasement policies to cover up the “failure of state government” on many fronts.
BJP State Secretary-General S. Vishnuvardhan Reddy on Tuesday filed an intervention with the district collector and superintendent of police to stop the move, which he called an attempt to illegally install a statue.
He accused the MLA of unilaterally advancing the plan, claiming that it was not approved by the district bylaws committee headed by the collector.
“The approval of the committee is constitutionally required, but Kadapa appears to be an exception. The YSRCP leaders believe that the chief minister’s district is out of constitutional jurisdiction, ”said Vishnuvardhan Reddy.
Recalling a similar attempt made in Kadapa city in 1996, Vishnuvardhan Reddy said locals not only demolished the statue but also dropped the legislature who initiated the move.
“The people of Karnataka dethroned the Congress government for this very reason. The MLA Proddatur is confronted with a similar consequence, ”he warned.
The BJP leader went on to claim that the idea of installing the statue was an attempt by the ruling party to divert people’s attention from a “series of failures.” “Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy shouldn’t shake up a hornet’s nest for the sake of some minority votes,” he said.