In a recent political uproar, Kethireddy Venkatarami Reddy, a leader of the YSR Congress Party and former MLA, accused the ruling coalition government of unlawfully arresting Jogis Ramesh and Jogu Ram under fabricated charges. During a meeting with former minister Jogi Ramesh on Tuesday, Kethireddy spoke to the media, expressing his outrage over the government’s actions.
Kethireddy claimed that the coalition government has kept Jogi Ramesh in jail for 83 days simply for pointing out their mistakes. He criticized the administration under Chandrababu Naidu for filing false cases against individuals who challenge their governance. He stated, “Even family members visiting Jogi Ramesh in the hospital have been targeted with legal cases. The state of law and order is under scrutiny, and while murderers evade justice, innocent people are being wrongfully incarcerated for trivial matters.”
Further, Kethireddy emphasized that the current government’s strategy of imprisoning those who oppose them only fuels their resolve. He vowed that Jogi Ramesh will continue to fight against the injustices perpetrated by the coalition government. In a direct challenge to Chandrababu Naidu, Kethireddy remarked, “In Dharmavaram, 70 percent of the liquor available is adulterated. This illegal liquor is produced right in your district. You promised to eliminate belt shops, yet now there are four in every locality.”
He also recounted a recent incident in Kadapa district where two individuals died due to consuming spurious liquor, questioning Naidu’s integrity in handling the situation. Kethireddy suggested that Naidu is attempting to dismiss the cases against him as “mistakes of fact.” He pointed out the hypocrisy in the judicial process when the same individual who filed charges against him can later serve as a witness in another case.
“How can cases against Chandrababu be simply overlooked as ‘mistakes of fact’? The collectors and SPs have been instructed to dismiss cases that were politically motivated,” he claimed. Kethireddy further criticized the deteriorating law and order situation, stating that it is unacceptable for the government to continue with their oppressive tactics. “We are not new to arrests or cases. We have witnessed such actions before. Authorities involved in filing false cases should reconsider their positions; the tables can turn on them,” he warned.
He also addressed the issue of liquor sales, emphasizing that the availability of counterfeit alcohol must be curbed. Kethireddy challenged the administration to take action against the illegal liquor trade instead of targeting political opponents. He raised eyebrows over a recent allegation concerning the Tirupati laddu being mixed with contaminants, stating that there is no evidence to support such claims. “If you want to make accusations, do so with credible evidence,” he asserted.
Concluding his statements, Kethireddy expressed his determination to legally fight against the false charges and vowed to not let those who have wronged them go unchallenged. He urged the public to scrutinize the government’s claims and urged local leaders to engage with citizens directly, emphasizing the importance of accountability in governance. “If you have the courage, come face us at the doorstep of the people,” he challenged.
