APCC president Y.S. Sharmila on Sunday condemned the filing of cases against journalist and former MLC from Telangana K. Nageshwar, terming it an act of harassment and political vindictiveness.

In a statement, Ms. Sharmila said it was unbecoming of the NDA government in the State to target an academic and intellectual in such a manner.

Even after Prof. Nageshwar had withdrawn his remarks and clarified his position, it was unjustified on the part of the government to register cases against him, she said, and demanded immediate withdrawal of cases filed against Prof. Nageshwar.

Prof. Nageshwar, citing highly placed sources, earlier allegedly claimed that Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan had asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to send YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to jail, but was advised to go soft on him.