‘Naidu in New Delhi to ward off corruption cases’

CM keeps his interests above interests of State, says Jagan

Striking a chord: YSRCP president Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy trying his hand at a musical instrument during his padayatra in Guntur.

Making light of the visit of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to New Delhi, YSR Congress Party president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said here on Tuesday that Mr. Naidu had yet again compromised on the Special Category Status and instead had gone to muster support from parties to bail him out of a slew of corruption charges.

“Even at this moment of reckoning, Mr. Naidu had again placed his interests above the interests of the State. While he had refused to join hands in the struggle for the SCS by asking his MPs to resign, he had gone to seek support from other national parties to bail him out in case the Centre files cases against him. But our MPs will abide by the party decision to submit their resignations and then sit on an indefinite fast at the AP Bhavan demanding the SCS,” Mr. Jagan said at a massive public meeting here.

Earlier, Mr. Jagan came down on the Chief Minister accusing the latter of turning a blind eye to the series of incidents which had rocked Guntur, including a massive outbreak of gastroenteritis which left more than 25 persons dead in the first week of March, the death of an infant due to rat bite at the GGH in August 2015 and the delay in grounding the drainage work which caused misery to the common man.

“The CM’s house is just over 40 km from here yet he does not take any action. Diarrhoea is not a life-threatening disease and could be treated, but in Guntur, 25 people died within a week. People of Old Guntur are not sure if the water they are drinking is potable. But this CM does not care to address these issues. Instead, he allows his MLAs to plunder the natural wealth of the State from river sand to quarry stone to coal,” Mr. Jagan said.

‘Navaratnalu’

Promising to end the misery of the people, Mr. Reddy said the “Navaratnalu,” the nine promises which were addressed to farmers, students, unemployed, widows etc would bring a change in the lives of people. Students from economically backward communities pursuing professional courses would be reimbursed their complete fee and each family would be paid ₹15,000 for their children’s education up to Intermediate.

Guntur East MLA Sk. Mustafa, party Lok Sabha coordinator Lavu Krishnadevarayulu, Guntur west in charge Lella Appireddy and other leaders were present.