Jagan asks Prez to send Naidu to jail

TD chief accused of encouraging defections from YSRC

YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to initiate steps to send AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to jail for “corruption and anti-people governance” in the state.

Mr Reddy called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum.

Speaking to the media later, Mr Reddy severely criticised Mr Naidu for encouraging defections. Reacting to four of his party MLAs and an MLC joining the TD on Monday, Mr Reddy said that despite Mr Naidu’s vigorous efforts to lure YSRC legislators, he could only get four and that too by promising them Cabinet berths. He alleged that Mr Naidu had tried to lure all his MLAs except him. “I must salute all my party MLAs who did not give in to Naidu’s fraudulent schemes to tempt them into his party,” he said.

The YSRC chief said after completion of three years in Mr Naidu’s government, the TD MLAs themselves would queue up to leave the party and that the TD chief would see the people’s opposition soon.

“Bhuma Nagireddy’s family is like our family; if people question, all the four defected MLAs should answer,” he said, accusing Mr Naidu of always using backdoor methods.

Mr Reddy alleged that the Naidu government was foisting false cases against Opposition leaders in the Tuni incident. He said that he had requested the President to direct the Centre to announce special category status for AP.

Mr Reddy is also trying to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the meeting hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Though Naidu tried to lure all MLAs of my party except me, only four fell prey to his scheming. These MLAs will have to answer to the people — Y.S. JAGAN MOHAN

REDDY, YSR Congress president