Hyderabad, September 13: A substantial number of tech professionals in Hyderabad have rallied in support of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was apprehended in connection with an alleged Skill Development Corporation scandal.
IT experts from various companies in Hyderabad actively participated in a demonstration organized by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) at the Wipro Circle in Gachibowli, a pivotal IT hub.
Brandishing placards emblazoned with the slogan ‘I am with CBN,’ the protesters vociferously expressed their solidarity with Naidu.
Their primary demand was the immediate release of Chandrababu Naidu, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding democracy in Andhra Pradesh.
While some individual IT employees had previously shown their support for Naidu since his arrest last Saturday, this marked the first instance of a substantial gathering to underscore their backing. Numerous tech professionals from neighboring Andhra Pradesh, who are employed in various firms in Hyderabad, also joined in the demonstration.
Chandrababu Naidu served as the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004. He is widely recognized for propelling Hyderabad onto the global IT stage by enticing industry giants like Microsoft to establish their operations in the city.
Under Naidu’s leadership, the inaugural IT park, Cyber Tower, was constructed during 1996-97. Subsequent phases and the development of HITEC City further bolstered employment opportunities for the local youth.
Many IT professionals believe that the tech-savvy policies implemented by Naidu, coupled with the improved infrastructure during his tenure, played a pivotal role in nurturing Hyderabad into a global IT hub and generating employment for thousands.
The organizers of Wednesday’s protest contend that Naidu has fallen prey to a political conspiracy concocted by the state, and it is incumbent upon them to express solidarity during this critical juncture to safeguard democracy.
Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Naidu assumed the role of Chief Minister for the residual state but was subsequently defeated by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress in the 2019 elections.
