Withdraw PD Act case on Appalaraju: CITU

CITU Andhra Pradesh general secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao on Sunday demanded that the State government immediately withdraw the Preventive Detention (PD) Act case against Rythu Sangham leader M. Appalaraju. He warned that the agitation for his release would intensify if the government failed to act.

In a press release, Mr. Rao alleged that the police booked 19 “false” cases against Mr. Appalaraju and detained him illegally. He also accused the police of harassment. He said they keep a daily watch outside Mr. Appalaraju’s house and stop him from stepping out. Calling this “outrageous”, he claimed the action was meant to intimidate those fighting for public causes.

Meanwhile, CITU leaders and cadres staged a protest against the government for invoking the PD Act against Mr. Appalaraju. The protesters raised slogans and demanded his immediate release. They also sought the withdrawal of all cases, alleging that the government was trying to suppress farmers’ struggles.

Mr. Rao, who joined the protest, alleged that the N. Chandrababu Naidu government invoked the PD Act against Mr. Appalaraju because he was fighting for farmers’ rights. He said the government should not use “draconian” laws to silence democratic voices and demanded an end to what he described as a political vendetta.