For those who don’t already know, Srisailam constituency MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy is in the firing line after he and his men allegedly attacked forest range officials in Srisailam over a petty issue. Reports suggest that the MLA and his aides assaulted the officials simply because they did not salute while he was passing through the area.
Since the victimized forest officials belong to the SC and ST communities, the incident has triggered widespread outrage. The officials have been demanding immediate action against the MLA and have even threatened to strike if their demands are not met.
The matter has now reached Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Forest Minister Pawan Kalyan, both of whom expressed strong displeasure over the incident.
Chandrababu reportedly reprimanded the MLA and called for a detailed report. He also met the victim officials personally to gather first-hand information.
Forest Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed serious concern as well, stating that strict action would be taken against the MLA under the supervision of the Chief Minister.
With both the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister directly stepping in, the MLA is likely to face tough consequences for his unruly behavior. The very fact that his men had the audacity to attack forest officials over such a trivial matter has raised serious concerns about responsible governance.
Chandrababu, who has consistently championed public-centric policies, has made it clear that it is unacceptable for elected representatives to misuse their power or intimidate government officials.
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