Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on Tuesday dared Leader of Opposition and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to agree to an enquiry commission to investigate the wealth accumulated by them and their family members over the last three decades.
Taking strong exception to allegations of corruption leveled by the Telugu Desam Party against him, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy asked Naidu whether he was ready for such an enquiry commission. He added that the state government was ready to institute such a probe.
Dr Reddy lambasted Naidu for alleging that he was making Rs one crore per hour through corrupt means. Unlike erstwhile Opposition leaders like Gouthu Latchanna, said Reddy, the present Opposition was resorting to cheap criticism against the state chief minister to gain political mileage in the next elections.
In fact, Naidu had declared himself as the Chief Executive Officer of the state during the nine-year rule of his Telugu Desam Party and was used to earning income on an hourly basis, said the chief minister. Naidu had concentrated only on accumulating wealth after becoming the son-in-law of former chief minister and TDP founder late N T Rama Rao, he contended.
He lashed out at the former chief minister for going back on all his three pre-poll promises, including total prohibition, Rs two-per-kg-rice scheme and a lower power tariff for agricultural pump sets.
Ridiculing the TDP leader for his latest promise of providing free power to farmers, Dr Reddy suggested that Naidu first conduct a survey to know whether the people believed his promises or not. In reality, the former chief minister had sent thousands of farmers behind bars for their failure to clear power bill arrears, alleged Reddy
Unlike TDP's false promises, the Congress government has fulfilled all its pre-poll promises, like free power for farmers, Indiramma pensions and houses for the poor, claimed the chief minister.
Referring to the challenge posed by the TDP on the Rs two-per-kilo rice scheme, the chief minister asserted that his government has not promised to implement the scheme with immediate effect. He added that steps are being taken to study the feasibility of implementing the scheme. The proposed rice scheme will be implemented in the next three or six months, Reddy promised.
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