Return Of Jagan Scaring Opponents: YSRCP

Asserting that the return of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to public life has electrified the political atmosphere in the state, the YSR Congress has claimed that his adversaries are jittery and have been spreading canards as they are scared of his popularity, following and the imminent result.

"Though opposition parties have been spreading rumours, the fact remains that the bail was given by court purely on merits, and after the CBI completed its investigation with the directive of the Supreme Court," party senior leaders D A Somayajulu and Konathala Ramakrishna told reporters on Wednesday.

They said, "During the earlier 5 times Y S Jaganmohan Reddy had moved the courts for bail, the CBI always contended that the investigation was not complete. Once the final charge sheet was filed, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy automatically became eligible for bail. The comments of TDP, BJP and Lok Satta leaders are out of raw frustration and sheer disappointment.

"TDP leaders' allegation that YS Vijayamma has thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi immediately after the bail was given has no credence at all. The leaders should name the source of the information."

The leaders also alleged that the case has weakened after former CBI joint director V Lakshminarayana was shifted. "The argument carries no ground, as it was the same officer who contended that the investigation was not complete, and that bail cannot be given to the accused while the process is on," they said.

"The only ground on which the CBI appealed to the court to deny bail to Jagan was that the investigation was in progress. Once it was complete, he was given bail. TDP's false propaganda springs out of helplessness, as they are showing lame excuses to cover up a genuine legal issue," they said.

"BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman passing uncharitable remarks on the bail goes against the statements of her own party's senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, who told the Parliament that the case against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is politically motivated and is a witch-hunt," they stated.

"BJP has brought out a charge sheet on N Chandrababu Naidu, leveling 100 allegations in 1998, and boasted that they would take action against him after coming to power. But when they fell short of seats to form the government at the Centre, they took the support of TDP, rubbishing their own allegations," they said.

They went on to allege, "Lok Satta leader Jai Prakash Narayan seems to be parroting someone else's views. His harsh language does not suit the position and stature he is holding. Comparing economic offences with that of the Nirbhaya case is a mismatch, and his over-enthusiasm in cases of corruption has been very selective.

"The same person went on record defending the owner of a media group when a case was booked against one of his firms for collecting deposits in violation of RBI guidelines stating that no depositor has complained and that the chit fund Company did not default any payment.

"Even in Jagan's case, no investor has complained. There are serious allegations against N Chandrababu Naidu in IMG Bharatha and other cases. The amount of fraud involved is much higher than what is being quoted in Jagan's case. The learned Jayaprakash Narayana has never opened his mouth against Naidu. If his crusade against corruption is genuine, he should demand a probe into the corruption charges against TDP leaders as well. He cannot be selective," they said.

"He should not be targeting individuals in the name of being a crusader of corruption. It is corruption that he should be targeting, failing which his words seem to be tutored by someone else. He too has ended up being a pawn in the conspiracy," they said.

"The special court is a designated fast track court, and we hope that the case will be expedited and our leader will get a clean chit. The party political affairs committee (PAC) will be meeting later in the day to chalk out the future course of action," they added. (INN)