CM Jagan Mohan Reddy orders probe into Amaravati land deals

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday announced that a thorough inquiry would be conducted into allegations of insider trading in
purchase of lands in Amaravati capital region.

He was responding to a direction issued by Speaker Tammineni Sitaram in this regard. “Assembly is a quasi judicial institution and you are a judge,” the Chief Minister told the Speaker and expressed his readiness to implement the Speaker’s directions.

Earlier, there were heated arguments between the speaker and leader of opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu who questioned the authority of the Speaker to order for such inquiry. The Speaker shouted at Mr Naidu and banged papers on the table taking objection to the remarks that Speaker has no authority. “Don’t talk rubbish. Sit down. Be in your limits. You are exceeding your limits,” the Speaker shouted and Mr Naidu who in an equal tone shouted back at the Speaker asking him not to cross limits.

The trouble started after finance minister B. Rajendranath Reddy read out several names including Mr Naidu’s wife, son Lokesh and Telugu Desam leaders and
their alleged benamis who according to the minister bought lands from farmers between May when the TD came to power and December when Amaravati was declared as capital.

The Speaker said since the names read out and documents showed in support of the minister’s claims form part of the record of the Assembly and it is the responsibility of the House to keep people informed of the truth. Mr Naidu should not have any objection over the probe when he is innocent, said the Speaker.