The multi-crore AgriGold deposits scam has all the potential to become one of the major issues in 2019 AP elections. The scam has robbed 32 lakh depositors of their hard-earned money up to Rs. 6,380 crore spread over AP, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other states.

Majority of the depositors numbering nearly 19 lakh are in AP alone, even as the main cases involving the scam are dealt with in AP jurisdiction. This is why it has become a touchy issue which is being raked by politicians now and then to suit their convenience.

BJP AP incharge Ram Madhav, during his current visit to Vijayawada, has accused AP government of not solving AgriGold victims’ problems despite the lapse of so many years since 2014. He charged TDP leaders with making time-pass allegations against BJP only to divert people’s attention from AgriGold and other burning issues.

TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas has quickly hit back at Ram Madhav, saying that it was BJP President Amit Shah who has interfered at the last minute and cheated the victims of the scam by creating hurdles in the sale of AgriGold property.

TDP MP said that a deal was almost reached with Essel-Zee group which came forward to buy the scam-hit AgriGold property at Rs. 4,000 crore. But, Amit Shah secretly forced Essel Group to back away from their move obviously for political reasons. This crisis came at a time when all was set to clear the dues to victims of the scam.

Despite such hurdles, the AP government has been trying to provide immediate help to small-time depositors by repaying deposits of Rs. 60,000 and less. If Essel group fulfilled its commitments as per its prior proposal, justice would have been done to AgriGold depositors by now. Other options are being explored to tide over the crisis and it is under way.

By raking up AgriGold issue, BJP leader Ram Madhav has needlessly drawn criticism from TDP now. BJP’s move to hit TDP hard seems to have backfired.