Strong Reaction to Government Dismissal
Venkatrami Reddy, the former president of the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Employees Association, has reacted sharply to the state government’s decision to dismiss him from service. Describing the dismissal as “arbitrary” and “illegal,” Reddy asserted that he was unfairly targeted despite having 14 years of service remaining. He stated that the government’s move is a blatant attempt to silence voices within the employees’ unions and announced his intention to challenge the Government Order (GO) in a court of law to seek justice.
Denial of Political Campaigning Allegations
The primary allegation against Reddy is that he campaigned for the YSRCP during the previous elections, a claim he vehemently denies. He pointed out that there is a complete lack of evidence to prove his involvement in any political campaign. Reddy argued that during the 2014-2019 period, several government employees had allegedly worked in favor of the then-ruling party without facing such extreme disciplinary actions. He claimed that the current administration is using these accusations as a pretext to punish him for questioning government policies as a union leader.
Allegations of Intimidation Tactics
Reddy further criticized the government for fostering an atmosphere of fear among state employees. He alleged that by dismissing a high-profile union leader like himself, the government aims to intimidate other employees and prevent them from raising legitimate concerns or demands. Having been under suspension for the past two years, Reddy maintained that his track record was professional and that the dismissal was a strategic move to suppress union activism. He concluded by reiterating his faith in the judiciary to overturn the government’s decision.
