Naidu's Security in Rajahmundry Jail Govt's Responsibility, Says Botsa

Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said on Tuesday that it was the government's responsibility to ensure the security of former chief minister and Telugu Desam (TD) national president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently lodged in Rajahmundry Central Jail under judicial remand in connection with the AP Skill Development Corporation scam.

Speaking to reporters in Vizianagaram, the minister said that Naidu's supporters could ask the government if there was any shortfall in the security system.

Satyanarayana said that the YSRC government could not be faulted in the arrest of Naidu, adding that if a mistake was committed, one could lodge a complaint with the central government or the United Nations.

"The arrest was not done overnight. Several investigative agencies carried out a thorough probe and came to the conclusion that corruption took place in the skill corporation deal, after which Naidu was arrested," he told the reporters.

Satyanarayana said that Naidu had to explain how much Siemens company released its fund, as it had agreed to finance the project with 90 per cent as its share.

Recalling the Volkswagen scam, the minister said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a probe and found where the money had gone, and later recovered it. The CBI gave a clean chit to the Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy government, he reminded.

On the Women's Reservation Bill, the minister said that all political parties appreciated the move, adding that it was only the Jagan Mohan Reddy government that introduced 50 per cent reservation for women in local body elections held in Andhra Pradesh.