Telugu Desam Party leader and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu was detained by Renigunta police on Monday. He was detained at Tirupati airport while he was on his way to attend election campaigning in Chittoor district.

After being detained, Naidu sat down in protest inside the arrival lounge at the airport. Naidu arrived at Tirupati airport from Hyderabad to take part in a protest in Tirupati against the high-handed actions of the local civic authorities. Police, however, denied permission for the protest citing the model code of conduct for (urban local body) elections and also the prevalence of coronavirus.

On Sunday, the Tirupati Municipal Corporation officials allegedly ransacked a tea stall belonging to a TDP leader, whose wife was contesting the March 10 election. It was alleged that the ruling YSR Congress wanted the TDP candidate to withdraw from the contest but, as she refused, the tea stall of her husband was damaged.

In wake of the incident, the TDP planned to organise a protest under Naidu's leadership. Having denied permission for the protest, the Tirupati Urban police sought to detain the TDP president at the airport.

"I have been Chief Minister for 14 years and am now the Leader of Opposition. Don't I have the right to protest? Why can't I go and meet the district Collector and the SP, Naidu angrily questioned the police officials and sat on the airport lounge floor. On the other hand, the Tirupati and Chittoor police placed important TDP leaders of the district under house arrest ahead of Naidu's visit.

TDP politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu strongly condemned the police acts and said it further exposed the draconian rule of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. "Detention of the Opposition leader is nothing but trampling the civil liberties. Is there a rule of law in AP," Ramakrishnudu angrily questioned in a statement.

with inputs from PTI

First Published:Mar 1, 2021 12:30 PM IST