Techies in Hyderabad come out in support of Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad, Sep 13 : Several techies in Hyderabad have come out in support of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who was arrested in an alleged Skill Development Corporation scam.

IT professionals working in various companies in Hyderabad participated in a protest organized by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) at Wipro Circle in
Gachibowli, a key IT cluster.

Holding placards with the slogan ‘I am with CBN’ the protestors raised slogans showing solidarity with Naidu.

The protestors demanded the immediate release of Chandrababu Naidu. They called for saving democracy in Andhra Pradesh.

While some IT employees have individually shown their support for Naidu since his arrest on Saturday, this was the first time that a large number
of people gathered to show their solidarity. Several techies from neighboring Andhra Pradesh working in various firms in Hyderabad joined
the protest.

Naidu was chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004. He is credited with placing Hyderabad on the world IT map by bringing
Microsoft and other global giants to set up their operations in the city.

The first IT park Cyber Tower was built by the Naidu-led government in 1996-97. Its subsequent phases and the development of HITEC City created
job opportunities for local youth.

Several IT professionals believe that the policies adopted by tech-savvy Naidu and better infrastructure created during his rule developed Hyderabad as a global IT hub and generated employment opportunities for thousands of people.

The organizers of Wednesday’s protest alleged that Naidu has been a victim of politician conspiracy woven by the state and it is "our duty to express solidarity in this hour of crisis to save democracy".

After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Naidu became the chief minister of the residuary state. He lost power to Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR
Congress in 2019.