Jagan Reddy attacked: Andhra CM says Centre trying to create unrest

Hours after YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president YS Jaganmohan Reddy was attacked at Visakhapatnam international airport, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu termed the incident a "drama" while alleging that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government is trying to create unrest in the state.

"The Modi government is trying to create unrest in the state, but such tactics will not be possible in Andhra Pradesh and the central government has to pay for such acts. People are observing the actions of the central government," Naidu said.

Reddy, a leader of opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly was injured in knife attack on Thursday near the VIP lounge of the airport. The attacker identified as J. Srinivas Rao works at a restaurant in the airport premises.

Soon after the incident, YSRCP cadre held protests at various places across the state blaming ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) behind the attack. They also alleged that the owner of the restaurant, where the accused works, was a TDP sympathiser. Political parties like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jana Sena, TRS, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen also condemned the attack.

However, Naidu accused the opposition party of trying to politicise the issue and described the attack a "drama" hatched by both the central government and K. Chandrashekar Rao(KCR)-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

"Neither Jaganmohan Reddy nor Pawan Kalyan will talk against the central government, and, KCR is also supporting them. Unfortunately, these individuals, including K.T. Rama Rao and K. Kavitha failed to react during the cyclone Titli, but they made a comment soon after the attack on Reddy," the Andhra Chief Minister said.

Naidu also questioned governor ESL Narasimhan's decision to call up the Director General of Police (DGP) to inquire about the attack and not him.

"Why should the Governor ask the DGP directly on the issue and direct him to submit a report? I am the Chief Minister. He should contact me. The issue is an entire drama. All the family members of the accused are YSR Congress party sympathisers and the accused himself revealed this in his letter and added that he resorted to the attack to garner sympathy for YS Jaganmohan Reddy. The attack also took place in the jurisdiction of the Central government. I never witnessed such politics in my long political career," he stated.

Naidu further said that both the Centre and opposition party men are trying to instigate people in the state.