The unusual success of the Chalo Vijayawada rally taken out by thousands of Andhra Pradesh state government employees on Thursday was a big surprise for the top leadership of the YSR Congress party and also the state government.
The police authorities told the government that all steps had been taken to prevent the employees from arriving in Vijayawada. Several district level employees’ leaders were taken into preventive custody; some others were kept in house arrest and those who entered Vijayawada were also arrested and kept in the police grounds.
The police authorities also claimed to have put up barricades everywhere so that the employees won’t be able to enter Vijayawada city from anywhere.
The BRT road where the rally was supposed to be held was completely cordoned off and the authorities installed CCTV cameras to keep a watch on the movement of the employees.
Yet, thousands of people were able to converge in the city and take out a rally at BRT Road as expected without any hassles.
Home minister M Sucharita and state government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, who had earlier announced that the government won’t allow rally, made an attempt to cover up the lapses later, saying no hurdles were created for the rally.
Enquiries revealed that the police personnel themselves had cooperated with the agitating employees. A local journalist from Vijayawada said at many places, the police constables themselves were seen guiding the employees to reach the venue of the rally.
Even at the BRT Road, though the police officials tried to stop the surging employees by putting up barricades, the cops themselves later removed them to allow the employees.
Interestingly, the employees, too, were found sharing their food and water with the cops. And they also sang a few songs praising the police.
Apparently, the police constables, too, were not happy with the pay revision and they, in fact, were the first ones to get their revised salaries.
“But since they cannot take part in agitation like others, they simply expressed their resentment by cooperating with the agitators,” a local journalist said.
There were reports that Jagan took serious view of the agitation by the employees and the failure of the police in thwarting the rally. Director General of Police Gautam Sawang met the chief minister on Friday and explained the factual situation.