Cash-for-vote scam: Jagan asks Chandrababu Naidu to clear voice on tape
Hyderabad: As expected, accusations and counters over the cash-for-vote scam reverberated in the AP Assembly on Friday, with Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy demanding that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu clarify whether it was his voice or not in the audio and video visuals recorded in the scam.
Mr Reddy also demanded to know if it was Mr Naidu who had sent TS TD legislator A. Revanth Reddy to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson. “The money seized in the case was amassed by Naidu through bribes. His name is mentioned as many as 22 times in the chargesheet. What is stopping him from coming here and clarifying,” Mr Reddy asked, insisting on a discussion on the cash-for-vote case.
He said TD MLAs state that the cash-for-vote scam is sub-judice and cannot be discussed in the House. “The ruling party ensures that everyone talks about my cases and accuses me left and right in the House. The worst part is TD members also accuse a person who is not alive (YSR), but when it comes to discussion on the cash-for-vote scam, it is not allowed and is projected as a dispute between the two states.”
Referring to ruling party members’ allegation that TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao called him over the phone on Thursday evening, Mr Reddy challenged the TD to prove the allegation. “I will resign if it is true. Will Naidu resign if it is not?” he asked. Mr Naidu was not present in the House when Mr Reddy was allowed to speak. In a counter move, the TD members accused Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy of representing Mr Chandrasekhar Rao. They alleged that Mr Reddy was the voice of Mr Rao in AP Assembly and they have colluded to destabilise the AP government and defame the AP Chief Minister.
Stating that Mr Reddy has 11 cases pending against him and has amassed crores of rupees through corrupt ways, the TD MLAs said the YSR Congress chief neither had the stature nor moral right to speak about an honest and efficient CM like Mr Naidu.
Privilege motion against KVP:
Amidst the din in the Assembly over the cash-for-vote case, TD members moved privilege motions against Congress MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao and YSRC MLAs on Friday.
TD legislator B. Jayanageswara Reddy said he was moving a privilege motion against the Congress Rajya Sabha MP for the alleged derogatory language used by him against the Speaker. His party colleague V. Anita moved a privilege motion against YSRC MLAs.
