GUNTUR: Suspected activists of TDP and Janasena attacked Health Minister Vidadala Rajani’s office in Guntur city in the early hours of Monday. The incident caused a stir in the city. Minister Rajani is a candidate contesting from the Guntur West constituency in the upcoming elections and had a new office ready in the Vidya Nagar area for its inauguration on New Year’s Day, Monday.The minister established the new office for her election campaign in the city.
However, the TDP and Janasena activists, who held a rally to celebrate the New Year late on Sunday night, reportedly in an inebriated state, threw stones at the newly prepared office of the health minister. The activists tore down the flex banners and shattered the office complex’s mirror window without any provocation. The opposition party activists chanted slogans against Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Health Minister Rajani. High tension gripped the area after the incident, causing panic among people who were going to attend the New Year celebrations. Upon receiving information, the police arrived at the scene and dispersed the stone throwers by using batons. Police detained some of the activists involved in the attack.
Minister Rajani arrived at the office in the morning and expressed her shock over the attack. “This is an attack on a woman leader from backward classes. TDP has no respect for the BCs. They are concerned about my entry into the city and resorted to an attack,” she said. However, she warned that no one behind the attack would be spared. She mentioned that TDP leaders have realized their impending defeat in the next elections and resorted to violence. She emphasized that Guntur city had never witnessed such violence in the past. The attack on her office indicated TDP and Janasena’s fear of losing, according to her. “They wanted to prevent a BC woman’s victory from the Guntur city seat. They won’t succeed as people are with us. TDP leader Nara Lokesh talks about BC empowerment, which is neither in their hearts nor in their agenda. They have consistently worked against the BCs,” Rajani stated. Sitting legislator Maddali Giridhar also condemned the attack on their leader’s office. He mentioned that TDP leaders couldn’t accept the entry of a BC woman into city politics. He demanded that the police take strict action against the perpetrators of violence. Meanwhile, the police registered a case and launched an investigation.
