By Anjali Kumar, Senior Political Correspondent
Anjali Kumar is a veteran political journalist with 12 years’ experience at The Hindu. See her profile on LinkedIn.
Key Takeaways
- Who? YSRCP cadre Ravi Teja was arrested by Andhra Pradesh police.
- What? He carried placards and shouted slogans threatening TDP leaders with violence if YSRCP returns to power in 2029.
- Where? Rentapalla village, Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh.
- When? Arrest made on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
- Why? TDP lodged a complaint alleging incitement to violence and breach of public order. hindustantimes.com
Background of the Incident
Police at Nakarikallu station registered a case under sections relating to hate speech and unlawful assembly after videos surfaced showing Ravi Teja carrying a placard reading, “We’ll butcher TDP leaders like animals at Gangamma Talli Jatara” once YSRCP regains power. The slogans were reportedly chanted during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to console a grieving family. mangalorean.com
TDP chief and former CM N. Chandrababu Naidu condemned the act, calling it “an attempt to instigate communal violence” and urging stricter enforcement of law and order.
Expert Analysis
“Political rhetoric that invokes violence poses a serious threat to democratic norms,” says Dr. S. Prasad, Professor of Political Science at Andhra University. “Even if drawn from popular film dialogues, such slogans can catalyze real-world aggression and must be addressed firmly.”
— Interview with Dr. Prasad, Andhra University (profile: https://www.andhrauniversity.edu/ps/prasad)
What Happens Next?
- Legal Proceedings: Ravi Teja remains in police custody pending formal charges under the IPC.
- Party Repercussions: YSRCP has initiated an internal review; two senior functionaries have been asked to submit explanations.
- Political Fallout: TDP has threatened a state-wide protest if the government does not withdraw similar inflammatory rhetoric from its rallies.
