Police Detains YS Sharmila During 'Chalo Secretariat' March Against YSRCP Govt

YS Sharmila, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President and sister of Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, was detained during the ‘Chalo Secretariat’ march protest in Vijaywada on Thursday.

The Congress’ protest in the state, led by Sharmila, demands that the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government address the issues of the unemployed youth and students.

The protest also demands a Mega DSC (District Selection Commmittee) to fill the vacancies of the teachers’ post in the state.

She said that her the government, led by her brother, had promised to fill 23,000 posts of teachers but issued DSC notification only for 6,000 posts. She asked the YSCRP government to apologise to the unemployed.

Earlier in the day, as her protest kickstarted, the thousands of policemen “surrounded” her and the party workers, she said in a post on X.

“During the rule of the YCP dictator, Mega DSC is being arrested if it is revealed that it was done by lying and DSC. Thousands of policemen were placed around us. Iron fences have been put up and we have been held hostage. If we stand on the side of the unemployed, they are arresting us. You are dictators who are trying to stop us. Your actions are proof of this. YCP Sarkar should apologize to the unemployed,” Sharmila wrote.

Heavy police deployment was seen at the Andhra Pradesh Congress committee’s headquarters in Vijayawada. This was done in a bid to ensure that law and order situation remains under control in the area.

Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh and Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore also slammed the state government, saying that it had a “dictatorial approach”.

Reacting to the police deployment he posted on X, “APCC HQ surrounded by Jagan Police in the early morning. Why? APCC President YS Sharmila Reddy is scheduled to lead a march to AP Secretariat against the unemployment crisis in AP. Standing up for the youth of AP a sine? Why is peaceful protest not allowed? #ChalloSecretariat.”

Last night, the Congress state chief had spent the night at the party office in Vijayawada to avoid house arrest ahead of the ‘Chalo Secretariat’ march.

(With inputs from IANS)