Jagan Hits Out at 'Yellow Media' for Allegedly Backing Chandrababu Naidu Amid Scandal

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has lashed out at opposition parties and “yellow” media for supporting Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu despite the former chief minister being caught on charges of graft in AP skill development scam after receiving income tax notice on undisclosed income.

Addressing a public meeting at Nidadavole in East Godavari on Saturday, the CM declared: “It is very unfortunate that Naidu, despite being involved in fraud, backstabbing, cheating of various social groups and for adopting politics of loot, a section of influential persons, comprising a gang of thieves, are trying to protect him. Until now, no one has raised these issues of Naidu. But law is equal for all. Punishment is also the same, whether for ordinary persons or those with power.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that Naidu had been earlier caught in cash-for-vote scam in the Telangana MLC polls earlier. His involvement in the scam had been proved based on forensic analysis of the audio and video tapes. “Despite such incriminating evidence against Naidu in the cash-for-vote scam, the one who questions (an oblique reference to Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan) will never question Naidu. The yellow media will also not question but instead support such fraud,” Jagan Mohan Reddy underlined.

On the skill development scam, he said, “A fake agreement of setting up a firm had been generated by Naidu in violation of norms. Siemens has made it clear that it has not signed any such agreement or received ₹371 crore. Enforcement directorate came up with all evidence and arrested those involved in the AP skill development scam. AP CID too found how Naidu has been the prime conspirator and beneficiary in the scam, how he pressurised officials to release the money despite their opposition.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that in another case, a show cause notice had been served on Naidu for an “undisclosed income” of ₹118 crore. Naidu’s personal assistant had been found involved in this, with central agencies ED and I-T finding incriminating evidence in the form of cell phone chats, e-mails, WhatsApp messages regarding how money got routed to Naidu.

The CM said after submission of all evidence against Naidu on his involvement in AP skill development scam, the ACB court heard both the parties for nearly 10 hours, before putting Chandrababu Naidu under judicial remand and sending him to jail.

“Who should be arrested in the case if not Naidu, as ₹371 crore have siphoned off,” Jagan Mohan Reddy asked. He took pot shots at Pawan Kalyan for meeting Naidu in the Central Prison in Rajahmundry and coming up with a political announcement on JS-TD alliance.

The Chief Minister explained to people how the YSRC, after getting elected to power in 2019, implemented a series of welfare schemes worth ₹2.35 lakh crore in the last four years, something that TD failed to do despite having the same budget.  

Jagan Mohan Reddy called upon people to support him in the upcoming polls, so that he can serve them in a better way. He wanted all those, who have benefited from a host of welfare schemes initiated by his government, to serve as soldiers and support him in coming back to power.