Protests Turn Violent Over Renaming of Konaseema District in Andhra Pradesh

Social Issues Social Inequalities and exclusion

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-01-30 09:22:14 |

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Violence erupted in Amalapuram town of Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district as protests against the renaming of the newly formed district escalated. The homes of Transport Minister P Viswarupu and YSRCP MLA P Satish were set on fire by demonstrators opposing the proposed change to Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema district. The unrest left several people injured, including police personnel who attempted to control the situation.

The state government had recently issued a notification proposing the renaming of Konaseema, carved out of the former East Godavari district. Authorities cited demands from various political parties and organizations as the basis for the decision. However, the Konaseema Sadhana Samiti strongly opposed the move and organized a protest to submit a memorandum to the district collector. The demonstration turned violent when police attempted to disperse the crowd, leading to clashes between law enforcement and protesters.

Amid the chaos, protesters resorted to arson, setting a school bus on fire before targeting the residences of Minister Viswarupu and MLA Satish. Security forces managed to evacuate the families before the violence escalated further. The situation prompted a heavy police deployment to restore order in the town. According to officials, the injured police personnel were not in critical condition, and efforts were being made to bring the situation under control.

State Home Minister Taneti Vanitha condemned the violence, stating that anti-social elements had instigated the unrest. She assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted and those responsible would be brought to justice. The ruling party dismissed allegations of political motives behind the renaming, emphasizing that the decision was made to honor the legacy of BR Ambedkar and in response to public demands.

Opposition parties criticized the government’s handling of the situation, blaming it for failing to maintain law and order. Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu called the incident a failure of governance, while Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan accused the ruling party of deflecting responsibility. BJP and Congress leaders also condemned the violence, holding the government accountable for the unrest in a region historically known for peace.

As tensions remain high, authorities are working to restore normalcy in Konaseema. The government has urged people to maintain peace while reiterating its commitment to addressing public concerns over the district’s renaming. However, with strong sentiments on both sides, the controversy continues to fuel political and social tensions in the region.

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