The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has strongly defended the killing of goats to mark the birthday of party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on December 21 in various parts of the state, and accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition of filing cases against party leaders and cadre.
YSRCP legal cell president Manohar Reddy denied allegations that the party was promoting violence by sacrificing animals on Jagan Mohan Reddy’s birthday.
He accused the coalition government of indulging in false propaganda to divert public attention from its governance failures.
He said the government could not tolerate the massive celebrations organised by YSRCP supporters across the state and worldwide on Jagan’s birthday.
In Anantapur district’s Kalyandurgam constituency at Bommakkanipalle, six persons were booked under the Animal Cruelty Act for allegedly slaughtering a goat during a feast.
“Similarly, in Bagakote village of Kanaganapalle mandal in Sri Sathya Sai district, cases were registered alleging animal cruelty. How can killing goats for meat as part of birthday celebrations be treated as violence?” he asked.
He further alleged that while producing the accused before the court, the police added charges under the Indian Arms Act by falsely claiming possession of illegal weapons, terming the entire process politically motivated and unlawful.
He said the government was attempting to portray the YSRCP as a violent force in the public domain and was increasingly resorting to fabricated narratives and false cases to malign the opposition.
However, TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asserted that political cover would not be allowed for acts of rowdyism, intimidation, or illegal settlements.
“What kind of celebration is this—indulging in road blockades, animal sacrifices involving weapons, or acts intended to spread fear by splashing blood on posters? We will not tolerate such violent acts,” Naidu said at a police event in Tirupati on Friday.
He stated that individuals involved in threats, extortion, and unlawful activities would face strict action, including externment from the state.
“Even if offenders belong to our own party, we have a history of sending them to jail if they break the law,” he asserted.
Naidu also said that authorities were keeping a close watch on social media platforms to curb defamatory and obscene content.