Congress steps up attack on Jagan

Says it did not give in to Jagan's pressure tactics after YSR's death

PTI | June 4, 2012



Stepping up its attack on YSR Congress leader Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in the run-up to the June 12 by-polls, Congress on Monday said that it did not appoint him as Chief Minister after his father's death despite his pressure tactics as it followed democratic norms.

"This is democracy. This is not aristocracy that the son would become Chief Minister after the king's death," Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who is also incharge of Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh said.

He was addressing a road show at Ongole in Prakasam district along with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi and Union Ministers D Purandeswari and Panabaka Lakshmi.

Azad kicked off the campaign for the by-polls to 18 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituency on June 12 in Tirupati yesterday.

He said that Jagan had tried to obtain signatures of MLAs in support of his candidature for chief minister's post after his father died in helicopter crash.

Rebutting the allegation of Jagan and his followers that he was being victimised, Azad said the world could not turn a blind eye to his alleged corruption.

"If Chief Ministers can go to jail, Union Cabinet ministers can go to jail, from Congress party and principal opposition party, what does Jagan think of himself? Has he come from heaven? He wants the whole world to keep eyes shut.

He wants that no agency should touch him. Is it possible?" he said in Tirupati.

"How can the world keep eyes shut if Jagan builds factories overnight and palatial bungalows worth crores of rupees," he asked.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy also attacked Jagan and refuted the charge that he was being victimised.

"Jagan Mohan Reddy's name was mentioned in the FIR over the murder of TDP MLA Paritala Ravi. The then chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy had said he would order a CBI probe which was the premier investigating agency in the country. He said his son would be punished if he was proved guilty. They (Jagan's family members) never raised doubts about CBI then.

Why do you say now that the Congress is trying to victimise you," Kiran Kumar Reddy remarked today.

The by-polls to 16 of the 18 assembly seats became necessary as the sitting Congress MLAs were disqualified after they switched their loyalty to Jagan and voted against the Congress government during a floor test in December, while another MLA resigned in his support.

While actor-politician Chiranjeevi quit as MLA following his election to Rajya Sabha which necessitated by-poll in his assembly segment.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter