Successfully cornering opposition leader YS Jagan on the illegal land purchases controversy, Chief minister N Chandrababau Naidu demanded the latter to show the proof for his charges or apologize for making the baseless charges against ministers, MLA and others. The CM said the house should not be allowed to move ahead until Jagan places the evidence before the House. The unexpected demand from the chief minister put the opposition leader in a piquant position. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao also requested the opposition leader to place whatever evidence he had with him before the House. “It is as simple as that you should place the evidence for the charges you made against the ministers. This is the demand from the other side,” speaker told Jagan. This happened in Assenbly when Jaganraised the large scale purchases of lands in capital region by TDP leaders while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address to joint session of Houses on Wednesday.
Intervening in the debate, Naidu said the opposition leader had made certain allegation against the ministers and he should not be allowed to continue his speech until he places the proof before the House. “Or you should apologize unconditionally for the charges made ,” the CM asked and added that they won’t allow the house run. A rare crisis, indeed, for the AP Assembly.
Jagan however maintained that all his charges had been proved when the persons referred to in the news reports, acknowledged that they had bought the lands.
“Jagan should take my challenge, he should prove his charges. If he shows evidence I will sack the ministers from the cabinet. If you have no proof , apologize for making false charges,” the CM said and added that Jagan was using his paper to peddle lies and falsehood against the government and MLAs.
Referring to the cases booked against Jagan by the CBI Naidu said let his cases be examined by the court but he should first show the proof for the charges he leveled against the ministers.
“It pains anybody If allegations are leveled against a person without proof. People get emotional when they face charges without proof- Their blood boils. So, the opposition leader should not go scot-free after leveling charges. I request the speaker not to allow the proceedings go forward if the opposition leader doesn’t furnish the proof for the allegations he made,” the CM clarified. Naidu also objected to Jagan’s addressing him in singular form which he said was un-parliamentary.
Responding to the challenge, Jagan said all the persons, mentioned in the reports, including wife of minister Ravela Kishore Babu, MLC Payyavula Keshav, employees of municipal minister P Narayana’s institutes, admitted that they had bought the lands. So, the government should come forward for a CBI inquiry, he added. The CM again intervened stating that Jagan should reveal who were the benamies of minister Pratti pullarao and municipal minister Narayana. ” The issue should be settled first. We won’t allow the debate proceed until he places the proof before the house,” Naidu reiterated.
Unfazed Jagan repeated his charge that CM allowed insider trading in the capital lands. “You are responsible for the insider trading. You violated the oath of secrecy taken at the time of taking oath of office in Guntur. You leaked the information of the capital location and helped them buy lands and later announced the location of the capital. This is insider trading,” Jagan alleged. Then MLA Dhulipalla Narendra raised an interesting point to corner Jagan.” It was Sakshi newspaper, owned by Jagan, which reported about the location of the capital on the banks of river Krishna. Was it leaked to the Sakshi paper first?” he asked. Jagan was abusing the paper and his news channel to drag the innocent family members into controversies, he alleged.
Jagan said Naidu first created confusion about the location of capital to allow insider trading go unabated and announced the location of capital leisurely on December 28, 2014. CM countered the charge of insider trading. “Everything was open. Some farmers asked for permission to sell off the lands as they would get more money. We allowed them to sell off their lands. Where is the insider trading. There is no violation of secrecy. People came forward to offer their lands. Government pooled 54,000 acres. No guideline was violated. Come what may, the project would not be stopped. First he should place the proof and settle the issue,” Naidu said.
Sticking to his point, Jagan demanded CBI inquiry into what he called the insider trading. Demanding proof or apology from the Jagan, members from the treasury benches raised the slogans against Jagan. Speaker also suggested Jagan to prove his charges as demanded by the TDP members.
