A government move to rename Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district after Dr. B. R. Ambedkar resulted in clashes and arson on May 24, 2022, reported the Indian Express. Officials said that several police officers were injured and properties of government officials were set on fire.
Thousands of protestors tried to barge into the district collector’s complex on Tuesday to condemn the decision to rename the place that includes an SC-reserved Parliamentary constituency.
#Konaseema ??????
Only Konaseema ??#Amalapuram pic.twitter.com/UvmqWpYWGj
— ??? (@premapusine) May 24, 2022
#WATCH | MLA Ponnada Satish’s house was set on fire by protestors in Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh today, the protests were opposing the naming of the district as Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district pic.twitter.com/XzJskKqhz3
— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2022
However, groups such as the KonaseemaParirakshana Samithi, the Konaseema Sadhana Samiti and the KonaseemaUdyama Samiti opposed the move and said the tourist region’s “traditional name” should be retained.
When the police used batons and fired into the air to disperse the crowd, protesters pelted stones on officers. Some of the mob even set fire to the house of ruling YSRCP’s Mummidivaram MLA P Satish as well as the furniture outside Transport Minister P Viswarup’s home. According to The News Minute, a mob of around 1,000 to 1,500 people came to the house carrying petrol. Satish and his family were moved to safety. Konaseema SP K Subba Reddy told the Indian Express how police vehicles and buses were set ablaze too.
According to Times of India, Konaseema is among the 26 new districts announced by the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in April. Earlier, it was a part of the Godavari district. The decision to rename the place was made after due considerations with various organisations and political parties. With around 20 days left for the relevant state government notification to come into effect, several groups have started processions in protest.
Police imposed bans on public gatherings. Yet, the Tuesday incident ended with Amalapuram DSP Madhava Reddy and SP Subba Reddy suffering injuries. Viswarup claimed that the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was trying to incite violence in the region. However, the TDP along with the Jana Sena and the Congress lashed out at the government for failing to bring the situation under control.
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