The fireworks in the just constituted Andhra Pradesh Assembly began on Monday with the Leader of Opposition Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy firing the first salvo as he demanded the resignation of TDP MLA D. Narendra Kumar if he could not prove his charge that lands were given away to special economic zones at a throw away price during the rule of Mr. Reddy's father YSR.
On the other hand, Mr. Reddy offered the resignation of his colleague K. Srikanth Reddy who was sitting by his side and prompting that Mr. Narendra levelled a false charge against late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Mr. Narendra accepted the challenge if the inquiry proved him wrong. The charges and counter charges took place during the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor's address which was initiated by Mr Narendra.
The TDP MLA said the YSR government gave away 75,000 acres to SEZs which in turn converted the holdings into real estate business by mortgaging to financial institutions. Mantri Developers which was linked to Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy itself claimed a loan of Rs. 650 crore for developing a software park in a SEZ at Shamshabad here.
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At this, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy urged the Speaker K. Sivaprasada Rao to verify the passports and visas of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and TDP MLA Kalwa Srinivasulu to vouch for their transactions. He alleged that Mr. Srinivasulu took Mr. Janardhan Reddy to Singapore to strike a deal with Mr. Naidu overseas. Mr. Srinivasulu denied ever going to Singapore.
Mr. Narendra requested the government to institute an inquiry even as Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy urged the former to confine himself to the Governor's address. The argument subsided with the Speaker's intervention as he said Mr. Narendra raised the issue in the context of a corruption free government stressed by the Governor.