After kicking up a controversy last week by asking people to shoot Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the streets for “failing to fulfil pre-election promises”, YSR Congress party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday triggered yet another uproar by calling for hanging Naidu in public.
“What is wrong in asking for Naidu’s hanging for cheating the public with false promises?” Jagan asked, while addressing a series of road shows in Nandyal in Kurnool district, where by-elections are scheduled to be held on August 23.
Jagan’s comments came almost at the same time when chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal told media he had received the explanation from the YSR Congress party president for his inflammatory comments against the chief minister during his public meeting at Nandyal on August 3. “I am sending a report on his explanation to the Election Commission, which will take a decision,” Bhanwarlal said.
During the Nandyal public meeting, Jagan had alleged that Naidu had failed to implement even a single promise he had given to various sections of people including farmers, women, unemployed and minorities. “The chief minister is known for his duplicity, double-dealing and treachery. And now, he is coming before you to seek votes again. There is nothing wrong, if people like Naidu are gunned down on streets in public glare,” Jagan said. “He is not a Mukhya Mantri (chief minister), but a Mukhya Kantri (chief looter).”
The EC took suo motu cognizance of his comments and served a notice on him on August 7 seeking an explanation from him. In his reply, Jagan said he had made the comments only out of anguish that the TDP government had failed to fulfil the election promises and that he had nothing personal against Naidu.
{{/usCountry}}The EC took suo motu cognizance of his comments and served a notice on him on August 7 seeking an explanation from him. In his reply, Jagan said he had made the comments only out of anguish that the TDP government had failed to fulfil the election promises and that he had nothing personal against Naidu.
{{/usCountry}}But on Thursday, the YSRC chief once again made a similar comment against the chief minister. He alleged that Naidu had been blatantly using money and muscle power in the by-election by luring all sections of the people unmindful of the fact that none of his election promises was fulfilled even three years after coming to power.
‘He is now repeating the same promises and is reiterating the same assurances which he did not fulfil during his three years in office. While the entire cabinet had hit the streets for this by-election and Naidu has been lavishly spending the ill-gotten wealth to lure voters,” he alleged.
His latest comment evoked strong reaction from the TDP leaders. “It appears Jagan has lost his mental balance. The EC should disqualify him from contesting elections forever,” senior TDP leader and irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheshwara Rao said.