Chandrababu Naidu fears arrest attributes motive to YSR Congress Party

ANANTAPUR: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu for the first time has responded to the corruption charges levelled against him by the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Government in Andhra Pradesh.

Chandrababu's remarks gained prominence in political circles as the latter recently received a show cause notice from the Income Tax Department about the alleged Rs 118 crore Amaravati construction scam. The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) had also launched a detailed probe to ascertain whether there were potential commonalities or connections between the IT scam and the AP Skill Development Corporation scam.

Participating in an interactive session with teachers, intellectuals, advocates and others in Rayadurgam of Anantapur district on Wednesday, Chandrababu Naidu said, "I may get arrested or attacked soon. The YSRCP Government is creating disturbances in the State by misusing the agencies. So far, I have been doing my job honestly as a politician without committing any mistakes," he said.

The TDP president recalled that former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had probed 26 inquiries against him but failed to prove his role in the alleged scams. Now the YSRCP Government was also trying to file false cases against him through a company, he said. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his ire against the YSRCP Government for making derogatory remarks against him in connection with the murder of former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy.

Chandrababu Naidu also accused the YSRCP Government of massively looting properties after coming to power in the State. He expressed his concerns to the YSRCP Government for restoring unauthorised canal digging on lands without informing farmers and alleged harassment of Nagendra, who filed cases on sand irregularities with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).