YS Jagan Mohan Reddy met party workers from East Godavari on Wednesday. They belong to the Gopalapuram constituency and had sacrificed a goat at a flex banner during his birthday celebrations last month.
The workers told Jagan about police cases filed against them. They also described how police arrested them and paraded them on the road. The issue has drawn public attention since videos of the incident circulated widely.
Jagan assured the workers that they should not feel afraid. He said the party’s legal team is handling their cases. He criticised the police, alleging they acted unlawfully with government support and damaged institutional dignity.
Jagan’s office released an official statement on the meeting. The workers were brought by Gopalapuram YSR Congress in-charge and former Home Minister Taneti Vanitha. The meeting was held at Jagan’s residence.
During Jagan’s birthday, YSR Congress workers in several parts of Andhra Pradesh slaughtered goats in public. They smeared blood on Jagan’s posters and shouted Rappa Rappa slogans. Many such videos were shared widely on WhatsApp and social media.
Public animal slaughter, blood smearing and threatening slogans are likely to invite police cases. Jagan could have asked party workers to show restraint and avoid such acts in public. Public figures are expected to discourage such behaviour.
However, Jagan has often taken a different approach in such matters. By meeting and supporting these workers, he appeared to endorse their actions indirectly. Reports suggest he may meet workers from other districts facing similar cases as well.
