TD MLA in dock for ‘manhandling’ Dalits

ELURU: TDP MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu is in the dock for allegedly abusing and manhandling Dalits at Saripalli village in Narsapur mandal of West Godavari district on Sunday. 

It was alleged that the MLA behaved in a highhanded manner towards the Dalits for objecting to opening of the village panchayat office even as a case is pending in the court against its shifting to a new premises. 
According to information reaching the district headquarters, Joseph donated five cents of land for the village panchayat office in 2009. The then MLA Prasad Raju got funds to the tune of `10.3 lakh sanctioned in two installments from the government for the construction of panchayat office.

However, the present MLA Madhava Naidu wanted to shift the office to a place near his two acres of land in the village and got a building constructed for it. It was alleged that the MLA was against the location of the office in a residential area of Dalits. A group of Dalits approached the court against shifting of the office and got a stay order.

Despite the court stay, the MLA hurriedly made arrangements on Saturday night for the office inauguration on Sunday morning.

The Dalits in the village staged a protest at the plaque set up marking the inauguration of the office building. Having learnt about it, Madhava Naidu reached the place and picked up an argument with the Dalits. In a fit of rage, he pushed some of the Dalits away leading to tension in the village.

Later, the MLA inaugurated the office and left the place. Denouncing the ‘highhandedness’ of the MLA, the Dalits staged a rasta roko on the main road. Narsapur Rural Circle Inspector C Krishna Kumar said the situation in the village was brought under control. The Dalits are likely to lodge a police complaint against the MLA.