Vice-president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Kolanukonda Sivaji, has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks at a public gathering, accusing him of shielding Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy from corruption allegations.
Addressing the media on Monday, Sivaji recalled instances where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued notices to leaders like Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, questioning why similar scrutiny has not been applied to Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is allegedly embroiled in corruption scandals.
Expressing disdain for Modi’s accusations against the Congress, Shivaji emphasized Jagan Mohan Reddy’s involvement in significant corruption cases, noting his imprisonment for several months. He stated, “The Narendra Modi-led Central government is shielding Jagan Mohan Reddy. Despite being on bail for a decade, there seems to be a lack of effort from agencies to expedite his trial. This points to Modi extending full protection to Jagan Reddy.”
Sivaji further asserted that Modi has forfeited his moral authority to criticize the Congress, suggesting a nexus between Modi and Jagan. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda’s previous allegations of corruption in Andhra Pradesh, Shivaji questioned the delay in expediting the trials against Jagan Reddy.
He mocked Modi’s recent rhetoric, insinuating a political game involving three leaders, and criticized the lack of progress in the investigation into YS Vivekananda Reddy’s murder and the allocation of Gangavaram Sea Port to Gautam Adani.
Highlighting the failure to address key issues affecting Andhra Pradesh, such as the granting of Special Category Status and the development of the Polavaram project and Amaravati as the capital city, Shivaji accused Modi of deceiving the people. He emphasized that mere rhetoric in Telugu and praise for NT Rama Rao do not suffice.
Shivaji also referenced Rahul Gandhi’s promise to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh and YS Sharmila’s efforts to raise awareness about the injustices faced by the state under BJP rule. He claimed that the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi has garnered significant support, unsettling the BJP.
Finally, Shivaji called upon Jagan Mohan Reddy to respond to Modi’s allegations and urged the people to support the INDIA bloc, asserting that only Congress can address the grievances of Andhra Pradesh.