AP Minister Botcha slams Telangana Speaker Pocharam Srinivas for calling Naidu's arrest undemocratic

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Educaton Minister Botcha Satyanarayana has reacted sharply to Telangana Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy's comments on the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu. He said that Pocharam's comments were inappropriate and that he should not interfere in the internal affairs of Andhra Pradesh.

Reacting to TDP president Chandrababu Naidu's arrest in the skill development scam at an event, Pocharam had said that there was no space for political vengeance in the country.

“I strongly condemn the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu. Acts like these should not happen in the country. In democracy, an administration should not resort to such political arrests,” he had said.

Pocharam also said that the Andhra Pradesh Government should forgive Naidu and that revenge was not correct.

Reacting to Pocharam's comments, Botcha said, "Pocharam Srinivas Reddy's comments are inappropriate and he should not interfere in the internal affairs of Andhra Pradesh."

"Naidu was arrested for corruption and the law should take its course. The Andhra Pradesh Government is committed to upholding the rule of law and will not be influenced by political pressure," he added.

Botcha also slammed former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for his claims of innocence in the ongoing investigation into the skill development scam.

"Chandrababu Naidu is a thief. He is making these claims of innocence because he has been caught. He knows that he is guilty, and he is trying to save himself. Naidu was the Chief Minister at the time. He was ultimately responsible for everything that happened in his Government. He cannot claim that he was not aware of this corruption," he said.

Botcha pointed to the fact that Naidu's Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens in 2015 to set up 17 skill development centers across the State. The MoU called for Siemens to invest ₹3,300 crore, but the company invested only ₹55 crore.

"Naidu's Government paid ₹371 crore to Siemens, but Siemens had not delivered on its promises. This is a clear case of corruption," Botcha said.