Love Jihad Began During YSRC Rule, Alleges Vijayasai Reddy

Kakinada:Former Rajya Sabha member V. Vijayasai Reddy on Monday alleged that “Love Jihad” began in Andhra Pradesh during the YSRC rule in 2019 and that the present alliance government too has failed to act against such trends.

Referring to the arrest of alleged criminal Shaik Sadiq Khan in connection with the deaths of three members of a family, Vijayasai Reddy said the accused should be interrogated and the “gang” backing him be identified.

The case should be handed over to the CBI if the state administration is unable to handle the investigation, he said.

He alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his predecessor Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had not acted against such groups because of their aim to protect their “Muslim vote bank”.

Vijayasai Reddy said he would soon announce his new party and explain its principles and ideology in Vijayawada.

He visited Kovvuri Bhaskara Reddy at Ravulapalem following the death of his son Jagadeeswara Reddy and daughter-in-law Soujanya. ”I would take responsibility for the education of Bhaskara Reddy’s grandson, Riaz Karthikeya Reddy, and extend assistance to the family,” he said.

Vijaysai also sought protection for Bhaskara Reddy and Karthikeya Reddy, citing threats from a gang. He demanded that properties allegedly taken by Sadiq Khan from Jagadeeswara Reddy be handed over to Karthikeya Reddy.

He alleged that Sadiq Khan was backed by a larger criminal network and called for a comprehensive inquiry by the state and central governments. He claimed that two other Hindu families, apart from the family involved in the present case, had been affected by the actions of Khan.

Nearly 15 other families in the Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram areas had also faced harassment and property-related coercion by the group, he said.