Naidu Slams Jagan's Allegations Over Land Deals

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu today condemned the allegations by YSR Congress Party chief and Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy of illegal land purchases by his Party members and him around Amaravathi as false, and denied that his son Nara Lokesh had bought Hailand land worth Rs 425 crores.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, he expressed anguish over the series of articles published in Jagan's newspaper Sakshi accusing his cabinet ministers and him of dubious land purchases in and around Amaravathi.

A furious Naidu warned of serious consequences for Jagan and the journalists for the "wrong" reports and the maligning of the image of the government over Amaravathi land.

The law would take its course against Jagan and his newspaper if they failed to prove their allegations, Naidu said.

He did admit that TDP leaders like Dhulipalla Narendra and Payyavula Keshav had purchased pieces of land near the capital city, and that Union Minister Sujana Chowdhary and MP Murali Mohan had also bought lands before the elections, but that those were neither crimes nor even wrong.

He also said that ministers Pattipati Pulla Rao and Narayana did not purchase any land.

"I denied Lingamaneni office space and am working from an office on government land," he added.

Naidu said that farmers and land owners in the capital city area had given land voluntarily, and that the government did not exert any force.