Welcoming
the CBI inquiry into Jagan's assets, Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy asked Jagan to take a definite and clear stand on his political career instead of blaming YSR and his then cabinet colleagues for decisions taken on irregular allotments of land to his business partners and the Dubai-based Emaar Properties.
The minister lashed out at Jagan's close aides, Balineni Srinivasa Rao and former minister Konathala Ramakrishna, for their comments supporting Jagan, and asked them to spell out their share in the 'illegal' wealth amassed.
He maintained that it was Jagan who brought his late father, YSR, into the controversy by stating that the entire YSR cabinet should be held responsible for decisons on the land allotments.
"Jagan chose to find fault with his father YSR, who had the distinction of being in state and central politics for over 35 years. While no political leader tried to blame YSR for the current 'illegal' wealth, Jagan, in order to find an escape route, has accused his father of taking decisions on irregular land allotments," he said.
Jagan's earlier stand, welcoming any inquiry, and his volte-face later on the CBI probe was something unparalleled in the country, the minister said.
Anam added that YSR always welcomed a CBI probe on any issue that called for it, but that Jagan's utterances had defamed his father.
"We hail the CBI enquiry because the state's top judicial body had ordered that the investigating agency should get to the bottom to unearth the skeletons, and to bring to book those who indulged in money-laundering and amassed illegal wealth," Anam Ramnarayana Reddy said.
Anam also sought to clarify to the media that that the Congress was not 'witch hunting' as alleged by Jagan, and that Jagan should welcome the probe when he himself had once emphatically stated that his business was a role model. (INN)