R Jagannathan
Jagan Mohan Reddy’s alleged crimes happened long ago – when his father was Chief Minister. His father was CM from 2004 to 2009, when a helicopter crash claimed his life. Everyone and his dog knew about YSR’s strongarm tactics, and his linkages to various mining and land scams. The Congress and the CBI did nothing, because he was their top CM, bringing in lots of MPs. The Satyam scam erupted in 2009. It had YSR links – many of the special infrastructure deals of Maytas happened during YSR’s regime. (Maytas is the Ramalinga Raju company that got some of YSR’s infrastructure deals. It was to be merged with Satyam but when big investors objected, the proposal was withdrawn. In the process, the Satyam scam unravelled). The Congress helped YSR cover it all up. Jagan’s wealth grew from almost nothing to Rs 77 crore by 2009. The Congress knew this, but didn’t act. Jagan launched his Sakshi media empire just before the 2009 election. But the Congress and the CBI again did little. QED. YSR’s and Jagan’s tryst with alleged irregularity and illegality did not matter to the CBI till Jagan decided to seek the CM’s chair after YSR’s death. It was only when Jagan became a political threat to Sonia Gandhi’s Congress that the CBI suddenly got a free hand to move on Jagan’s empire. This does not mean Jagan deserves a clean chit. But the CBI did not cover itself with glory by not going after YSR and son when it should have. What else can one conclude but that some of the CBI’s actions are driven by the Congress’ political predilections? read less read more
Akshaya Mishra
Bypolls for 18 assembly seats are due on June 12. Most of the seats are located in the Rayalaseema and adjacent areas in the Andhra region where Jagan Reddy has huge sentimental pull. These are the bastion of the Reddys, a powerful political force in the state and die-hard supporters of former chief minister YS Reddy and his son Jagan. It would be politically suicidal for the Congress to get him arrested at this juncture and give him the aura of victimhood. The party is already struggling for numbers in the assembly and it can hardly afford to create a situation where it ends up the loser. The Congress, if at all it wanted to use the CBI to arrest the YSR Congress leader, would have chosen some other time. The argument that he was put in the CBI custody so that he cannot campaign is naïve to say the least. For the party, Jagan in jail would be a bigger threat than Jagan campaigning. Emotions play a big role in elections. No other party than the Congress would be better aware of that. read less read more
