Leader of opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly YS Jaganmohan Reddy demanded CBI inquiry into Agrigold scam given the dimension of the scam and number of families affected by the fraud. The Assembly took up the matter for a special debate this afternoon following the agitation from the Opposition YSRC members in the House this morning.
Stating that the CID inquiry ordered by the chief minister would not do justice to the 40 lakh familie s affected, Jagan alleged that CID is amenable to the pressures from chief minister Chandraababu Naidu. He also alleged that state government argued in the court that there was no need for the arrest of the governing members of company. ” When the government and CID are of the view that there was no need for the arrest of the accused, how could one expect justice from the inquiry by the CID,” Jagan asked.
Drawing parallel to the Sarada scam, the opposition leader said when the West Bengal government referred chitfund scam of worth Rs 2400 crore to CBI, what was preventing the state government to refer the case to CBI when the amount involved in the Agrigold scam was whopping Rs 10,000 crore.
Jagan accused that Venkayamma, wife of agriculture minister P Pullarao had purchased the property of Agrigold when scam was rocking the sate. Jagan disproved of the CID inquiry and demanded CBI probe in the interest of 40 lakh consumers. Jagan accused that the properties bought by the minister’s wife had been exempted from the attachment.
Intervening in the debate, youth affairs minister K Atchannaidu said government was for the speedy disposal of the cases related to the Agrigold scam and this was possible only through CID inquiry.
” When the matter is in High Court an inquiry by CBI is not possible. We have no objection if Jagan persuades High Court for a CBI inquiry. The government would refer the matter to the CBI the next hour if Jagan gives commitment that he will be responsible if there is any delay because of CBI probe. But, we want the cases to be disposed as early as possible. The government wants to appoint a special court for the speedy disposal of Agrigold cases. If necessary the chief minister will meet the chief justice and prevail upon him to appoint a special court for the purpose,” the minister said.
Agriculture minister Pullarao refuted the charge that his wife had acquired Agrigold property. ” If the opposition leader proves that my wife had bought land I will give it back to Jagan,” Pullarao said adding that Jagan’s father YS Rajasekhar Reddy was also responsible for the spread of Agrigold tentacles across the state. Rao dared Jagan to prove that his father and the then chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy had no links with Agrigold.
Jagan deplored that speaker was allowing ministers deliver longer speeches in the name of intervention longer the his main speech meant to initiate the debate on Agrigold.
