Only way to stop me was to \"encounter\" me, says YSRC rebel MLA Kotamreddy

 TIRUPATI: Amid rumours of a likely arrest, Nellore Rural legislator Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy said on Friday that his voice would not be silenced and that he was prepared to face the consequences.

Reddy, who recently embarrassed the ruling party by alleging that his phone was being tapped, dared anyone to “stop” him and said the only way for them to silence him was to organise a “fake encounter” and finish him off.

Addressing a press conference in Nellore, the YSRC rebel MLA said he resigned from his position in a righteous and honest manner as he did not want to be facing the needle of suspicion.

“I decided to quit YSRC only after getting confirmation that my mobile phone was tapped. I’m unable to adjust to such an environment,” he said, adding that there was a trust-deficit.

The MLA said he had clear evidence of the government tapping his phone. He was aware of the difficulties he would face after quitting the ruling party, he said and pointed out that, yet, he had been involved in district politics for 35 years, starting as a student leader.

Kotamreddy also accused state government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy of maintaining links with the sand mafia and the liquor business. "Sajjala is hinting to the media that I will soon be detained by the police. If I open my mouth and reveal the audio records related to the sand mafia and liquor industry, it will be his final day in the YSRC government.”

“Sajjala should therefore be careful with his comments," he cautioned.

Saying that he was disappointed with former minister Anil Kumar Yadav's accusations against him, Kotamreddy said, "I did not betray the CM. I was hurt by Anil Kumar's words. I morally backed him when he lost an election. I treated him as if he were a part of my own family, but I never anticipated he would target me," he stated.

The MLA sought an inquiry into the alleged phone tapping and expressed concern that the state government had not addressed the issue in a letter to the central home ministry. The tapping of a ruling party MLA's phone is not an isolated incident.”

Referring to the upcoming elections, he stated “Who would contest from whatever party will be revealed at the time of the elections."