BJP leaders protest Andhra government’s curbs on Ganesh Chaturthi festival, detained

Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Somu Veeraju, and state general secretary Vishnu Vardhan Reddy Satya Kumar were detained by the police along with other party leaders while they were protesting the state government’s curbs on public celebrations of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The BJP leaders staged a protest against the state government’s decision at the Kurnool Collectorate and were detained by the police.

The police blocked the movement of BJP demonstrators, resulting in a scuffle between them. Meanwhile, the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) said the restrictions were imposed according to the Centre’s guidelines.

Criticising the state BJP leaders for politicising the government’s decision, the state government clarified that the restrictions are only on the public celebrations in view of a possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and said there was no need to politicise the issue.

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To avoid mass gatherings, the state government had postponed the events like YSR Achievement awards, Teacher’s Day celebrations, and even celebrated the 75th Independence Day without allowing public participation in the state function.

The party clarified that the restrictions are part of the preventive measures for public safety.

The Andhra Pradesh Government criticised the BJP leaders for not speaking up on vaccines, Covid testings and alleged that the saffron party intentionally politicised the issue to mislead people.

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