Jagan`s bid to target Naidu on black money boomerangs

Hyderabad: YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today sought to target Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over corruption issue during a discussion on black money in Andhra Pradesh Assembly, but was cornered when the ruling TDP launched a swift counter-attack on him. Playing the role of the Leader of Opposition for the first time today, Jagan tried to attack Naidu on the issue of corruption, but his gamble appeared to have failed when the ruling party raised his own record in the matter. "Is there any other member in the House who spent 16 months in jail Is there any other member whose properties worth Rs 1,100 crore were attached (by the Enforcement Directorate) Is there any other member against whom charges of amassing Rs one lakh crore are levelled Is there any other member against whom the CBI filed charge-sheets alleging corruption to the tune of Rs 43,000 crore," Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu questioned, amidst thumping of desks by the TDP legislators. Left speechless, Jagan had no answers to these questions as it was a direct attack on him by the TDP. It all happened during a discussion on a resolution on black money moved by the Chief Minister in the House today. As soon as Chandrababu explained the reason for moving the resolution appreciating the Centre`s initiatives to flush out black money and curb corruption Jagan stood up and referred to the huge expenditure "by some parties" in the recent elections. "I don`t know if it is called black money, but if you go to the constituencies, people will explain who spent how much," Jagan said, inviting a sharp reaction from the Treasury benches. Jagan then alleged that Chandrababu had got the probes into the allegations of corruption stalled on "technical and other grounds". The YSRC leader also referred to the "diaries" of alleged hawala kingpin Hasan Ali in which he reportedly mentioned delivering money to "two Chief Ministers" towards election expenditure in 2004. "If you are serious about black money, you should get an inquiry done into the Ali diaries as well and establish the truth," Jagan said, directly naming the Chief Minister. The Legislative Affairs Minister immediately cut Jagan short and objected to the manner in which the latter addressed the Leader of the House in the Assembly (Naidu). "Your language is unparliamentary. You cannot address the Leader of the House in such fashion," Yanamala told Jagan. The Leader of Opposition then sought to continue his attack on the Chief Minister, but Yanamala intervened again and launched a swift counter-attack on him. "Jagan talking about corruption and black money is like devils preaching sermons," Yanamala remarked and bombarded him with the questions. Unable to reply, Jagan promptly announced that he was fully supporting the resolution. The resolution was then adopted unanimously.