KCR calls Jagan Mohan Reddy, wishes him a speedy recovery

Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Thursday called Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) president Jagan Mohan Reddy to enquire about his health.

Rao enquired the severity of the injury and advised Reddy, who was attacked at the Vishakhapatnam airport by an employee, to take as much rest as required and wished him a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu while addressing officials at the collectors' conference said Visakhapatnam airport, the place where the incident took place, comes under the purview of the Centre and not the Andhra Pradesh government.

"If the incident took place outside the Visakhapatnam airport, it might be the responsibility of the state government. The airport comes under the central government purview. Then who is responsible? The injured person left for Hyderabad immediately after the incident. How can the investigation be done in the neighbouring state? The attacker had written a letter against the government, he had erected flexes as a fan (Reddy). How this can be understood?" he asked.

Reddy, who is the leader of opposition in the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly, was attacked with a sharp object at the Visakhapatnam airport earlier today by a canteen worker in the airport.

The attacker, who has been identified as J Srinivas Rao, approached the leader asking for a selfie. After the photograph, he stabbed Reddy with a knife-like sharp object. Reddy suffered minor injuries and was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) RP Thakur told media that the police are investigating that how a knife like an object was taken into the airport.

"The accused has been working in the airport restaurant from more than a year and it seems he committed this attack for publicity sake. The CISF staff recovered a 10-page letter from the accused and handed it over to state police. The security will be increased to Reddy if needed," he added.

Meanwhile, YSRCP cadre started agitations across the state. In Kurnool, the party leaders and cadre held 'Rasta Roko' in front of district collector office. The police and party leaders prevented him. After that, the police took him into their custody. In Visakhapatnam, the party cadre held a sit-in protest on the national highway. All the YSRCP leaders alleged the attack as a law and order failure in the state. Due to the protests at multiple places in Andhra Pradesh, the West Indies and Indian cricket teams who were scheduled to reach airport stuck in traffic jam.

Political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jana Sena, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has condemned the attack on Reddy. The BJP leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) GVL Narasimha Rao demanded a judicial inquiry. Andhra Pradesh ruling party TDP also condemned the attack on the opposition leader.

The YSRCP leaders apprehended ruling party hand behind the attack. They alleged that the owner of the restaurant in which the accused is working, is a Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a sympathiser. However, the family members of the accused later informed that he has been a fan of Reddy.

However, the TDP leaders asked how it is the responsibility of the state police as the incident took place in the airport where the CISF holds the security responsibility. They further asked why Reddy flew to Hyderabad instead of complaining to Visakhapatnam police. They even suspected why Governor ESL Narasimhan, who is in Delhi, called the state DGP and asked for a report, and alleged that it is a conspiracy by the central government with the cooperation of the YSRCP.

Meanwhile, the doctors suggested a day of rest at the hospital. Dr Siva Reddy, Neurosurgeon at Omega Hospital who operated Reddy told ANI that Reddy came to the hospital in very stable condition, but after a deep injury was discovered, he had to be operated. "We have suggested him to stay in the hospital for today as reports will arrive on Friday. He has received three to four centimetres of injury".

-ANI