Express News Service
Last Updated : 29 Nov 2011 08:05:09 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Besides fighting legally and politically against the petition filed by YSRC honorary president YS Vijayamma, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu has also started his own investigation into the allegations of Vijayamma. As Vijayamma mentioned in her petition that Naidu had a hotel in Singapore on a benami name, Naidu started efforts to produce the evidence that the hotel did not belong to him.
He recently dashed off a letter to the Singapore High Commissioner seeking details about the hotel mentioned by Vijayamma. The Singapore High Commissioner informed Naidu that the hotel belonged to someone from British Virginia Island (BVI). "I wrote a letter to the Singapore High Commissioner and understood that the said hotel was managed by some persons from BVI," Naidu told reporters here on Monday.
Naidu said Vijayamma's allegations that Satyam Ramalinga Raju funded his son Lokesh's education in Stanford University was also wrong. The US universities were not in such a situation to sell seats for money, he said. Naidu recalled that his son worked in the World Bank, GE and also in the Singapore Prime Minister's office before joining the family business. Reiterating that Vijayamma's petition was baseless, Naidu said his party leaders filed a petition in the high court against Jagan with all documentary evidence.
The Congress was behind Vijayamma filing a petition against him, he said, adding, "The truth will come out very soon. I can only tell my opponents that I did no mistake in public life," Naidu averred. "My life is like an open book.
The government is targetting all those who fought against graft in the country, including Baba Ramdev and Kiran Bedi. I have been fighting against corruption and illegal mining for the last seven years.
Even against TDP founder NT Ramarao 104 cases were filed. In the same manner they are targeting me now," Naidu said.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
CPM Attends CM's All-Party Meet, Skips TDP's
Last Updated : 29 Nov 2011 11:54:43 AM IST
HYDERABAD: CPM leaders skipped the all party farmers meeting convened by Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu at NTR Bhavan here on Monday. While CPI state secretary K Narayana attended the meeting, CPM state secretary BV Raghavulu not only gave it a miss but also did not send any representative of the party. When Naidu tried to contact Raghavulu over phone, the latter became elusive. A CPM leader, however, explained that they were busy with the party's district level meetings and could not attend Naidu's meeting. "We informed the same to TDP office incharge," he added.Interestingly, Raghavulu, though busy with party meetings, attended another allparty meeting convened by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on land matters earlier in the day. The grapevine has it that the CPM skipped TDP's meeting as a CBI probe was initiated against Naidu. But, the CPM sources did not confirm it.
The twohourlong meeting decided to stage dharnas before sugar factories on December 2 demanding payment of Rs 2,500 per quintal of sugarcane and before district collectorates on farmers issues on December 7. The TDP will move a notrust motion in the Assembly against the government on farmers' issues. "We will fight the government simultaneously inside and outside the Assembly," Naidu told reporters later.
He said his party would come out with an alternative economic policy to see that farmers and the poor enjoyed the fruits of economic reforms. The draft alternative policy would be pronounced by him at the national level. Naidu admitted that he initiated reforms but failed to see that fruits of reforms reached the poor and farmers. "I created wealth in state and I wanted to distribute it to poor," he claimed.
HYDERABAD: CPM leaders skipped the all party farmers meeting convened by Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu at NTR Bhavan here on Monday. While CPI state secretary K Narayana attended the meeting, CPM state secretary BV Raghavulu not only gave it a miss but also did not send any representative of the party. When Naidu tried to contact Raghavulu over phone, the latter became elusive. A CPM leader, however, explained that they were busy with the party's district level meetings and could not attend Naidu's meeting. "We informed the same to TDP office incharge," he added.Interestingly, Raghavulu, though busy with party meetings, attended another allparty meeting convened by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on land matters earlier in the day. The grapevine has it that the CPM skipped TDP's meeting as a CBI probe was initiated against Naidu. But, the CPM sources did not confirm it.
The twohourlong meeting decided to stage dharnas before sugar factories on December 2 demanding payment of Rs 2,500 per quintal of sugarcane and before district collectorates on farmers issues on December 7. The TDP will move a notrust motion in the Assembly against the government on farmers' issues. "We will fight the government simultaneously inside and outside the Assembly," Naidu told reporters later.
He said his party would come out with an alternative economic policy to see that farmers and the poor enjoyed the fruits of economic reforms. The draft alternative policy would be pronounced by him at the national level. Naidu admitted that he initiated reforms but failed to see that fruits of reforms reached the poor and farmers. "I created wealth in state and I wanted to distribute it to poor," he claimed.
Sunday 27 November 2011
Naidu feels the big squeeze
V V Balakrishna
Last Updated : 27 Nov 2011 11:00:13 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu finds himself again in the firing line. This time it is the CBI which is raining bullets on him. The investigating agency has been ordered by the Andhra Pradesh High Court to carry out a probe into his assets. The High Court has acted on a petition filed by Y S Vijayamma, the widow of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekara Reddy.
Political analysts feel that Vijayamma's petition is a tit-for-tat. TDP leaders had filed a petition in the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the illegal wealth of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. The CBI on their part questioned YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. So pundits believe that since Jagan is himself facing a probe he entrusted the job of filing a counter complaint to his mother and YSRC honorary president Y S Vijayamma. The Economic Directorate has already slapped notices on Nara Lokesh, Naidu’s son and NTR Memorial Trust.
The TDP views it as a political conspiracy to prevent TDP from coming to power in 2014. “YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is losing ground after the CBI probe and the Congress too hasn’t been able to do much. TDP is growing stronger in the state. That is why Jagan colluded with Congress high command and filed a case against Naidu,” TDP senior leader Motkupalli Narasimhulu said. “Jagan called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently. After that the CBI probe against him slowed down. As per the deal struck by YSR Congress with Congress, Vijayamma filed a petition against Naidu. Now, around 26 Jagan loyalist MLAs, who quit Congress and extended support to Jagan, were returning to the Congress fold. This is the understanding between YSRC and Congress," TDP politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.YSR Reddy as an opposition leader had filed many cases against Naidu and after becoming CM; he constituted as many as 24 commissions and probes against the TDP chief. As a counter attack, TDP is now planning to file petitions against the then cabinet ministers in YSR Reddy’s regime. TDP is also planning to file petitions seeking probe into the trusts owned by Sonia Gandhi because the TDP is suspecting that CBI probe against Naidu was a conspiracy hatched by Congress high command.
Last Updated : 27 Nov 2011 11:00:13 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu finds himself again in the firing line. This time it is the CBI which is raining bullets on him. The investigating agency has been ordered by the Andhra Pradesh High Court to carry out a probe into his assets. The High Court has acted on a petition filed by Y S Vijayamma, the widow of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekara Reddy.
Political analysts feel that Vijayamma's petition is a tit-for-tat. TDP leaders had filed a petition in the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the illegal wealth of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. The CBI on their part questioned YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. So pundits believe that since Jagan is himself facing a probe he entrusted the job of filing a counter complaint to his mother and YSRC honorary president Y S Vijayamma. The Economic Directorate has already slapped notices on Nara Lokesh, Naidu’s son and NTR Memorial Trust.
The TDP views it as a political conspiracy to prevent TDP from coming to power in 2014. “YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is losing ground after the CBI probe and the Congress too hasn’t been able to do much. TDP is growing stronger in the state. That is why Jagan colluded with Congress high command and filed a case against Naidu,” TDP senior leader Motkupalli Narasimhulu said. “Jagan called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently. After that the CBI probe against him slowed down. As per the deal struck by YSR Congress with Congress, Vijayamma filed a petition against Naidu. Now, around 26 Jagan loyalist MLAs, who quit Congress and extended support to Jagan, were returning to the Congress fold. This is the understanding between YSRC and Congress," TDP politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.YSR Reddy as an opposition leader had filed many cases against Naidu and after becoming CM; he constituted as many as 24 commissions and probes against the TDP chief. As a counter attack, TDP is now planning to file petitions against the then cabinet ministers in YSR Reddy’s regime. TDP is also planning to file petitions seeking probe into the trusts owned by Sonia Gandhi because the TDP is suspecting that CBI probe against Naidu was a conspiracy hatched by Congress high command.
Saturday 26 November 2011
Telugu Desam grandsons in succession battle
V V Balakrishna
Last Updated : 29 May 2011 07:28:16 AM IST
HYDERABAD: With Junior NTR, film actor and son of Rajya Sabha member Nandamuri Harikrishna, giving a miss to Mahanadu, the three-day annual conclave of the Telugu Desam Party which is underway in Hyderabad, the air is pregnant with the uneasy feeling that the Chandrababu Naidu’s successor issue is once again hotting up.
While Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh Naidu is being projected as his successor, NTR’s grandson—NTR Jr and Harikrishna’s son are battling it out for the TDP throne. In Krishna, the native place of TDP founder late N T Rama Rao, the party is divided into Harikrishna and Naidu factions. When N Chandrababu Naidu went to NTR Ghat on Saturday to pay homage to the leader, slogans were raised that NTR’s family be treated with more vitality in the party. TDP activists from Chandragiri, Chittoor—Naidu’s stronghold—demand Lokesh be given the charge, indicating he might contest the seat in the 2014 polls. Harikrishna’s followers demand NTR Jr be given an important role in TDP. Harikrishna is a politburo member of TDP and a Rajya Sabha member.
NTR Jr is a leading Telugu actor, while Lokesh runs the family business, Heritage Foods, that makes dairy products. Lokesh was also poll manager for his father Naidu in the Kuppam Assembly constituency.
Family politics got murkier when Naidu used Balakrishna, another of NTR’s sons Balakrishna, whose daughter Brahmani is married to son Lokesh. Balakrishna too is a star campaigner for the TDP, which blamed NTR’s daughter and Union Minister D Purandeswari for causing the trouble in the party at the behest of the Congress. Naidu earlier “NTR Jr is busy with films and Lokesh is busy with business”.
Last Updated : 29 May 2011 07:28:16 AM IST
HYDERABAD: With Junior NTR, film actor and son of Rajya Sabha member Nandamuri Harikrishna, giving a miss to Mahanadu, the three-day annual conclave of the Telugu Desam Party which is underway in Hyderabad, the air is pregnant with the uneasy feeling that the Chandrababu Naidu’s successor issue is once again hotting up.
While Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh Naidu is being projected as his successor, NTR’s grandson—NTR Jr and Harikrishna’s son are battling it out for the TDP throne. In Krishna, the native place of TDP founder late N T Rama Rao, the party is divided into Harikrishna and Naidu factions. When N Chandrababu Naidu went to NTR Ghat on Saturday to pay homage to the leader, slogans were raised that NTR’s family be treated with more vitality in the party. TDP activists from Chandragiri, Chittoor—Naidu’s stronghold—demand Lokesh be given the charge, indicating he might contest the seat in the 2014 polls. Harikrishna’s followers demand NTR Jr be given an important role in TDP. Harikrishna is a politburo member of TDP and a Rajya Sabha member.
NTR Jr is a leading Telugu actor, while Lokesh runs the family business, Heritage Foods, that makes dairy products. Lokesh was also poll manager for his father Naidu in the Kuppam Assembly constituency.
Family politics got murkier when Naidu used Balakrishna, another of NTR’s sons Balakrishna, whose daughter Brahmani is married to son Lokesh. Balakrishna too is a star campaigner for the TDP, which blamed NTR’s daughter and Union Minister D Purandeswari for causing the trouble in the party at the behest of the Congress. Naidu earlier “NTR Jr is busy with films and Lokesh is busy with business”.
No more a charmed life
V V Balakrishna
Last Updated : 20 Nov 2011 09:50:06 AM IST
HYDERABAD: At a time when things appeared to be working in his favour, the odds have suddenly stacked up against Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu. The first blow came from the state High Court, which by acting on the petition of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s mother Vijayamma, ordered a preliminary investigation by the CBI into his wealth.
The Telangana agitation also left Naidu’s edifice’s bruised and battered. The party lost seven of its MLAs, who changed sides to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. Finally, after the agitation has been called off, Naidu has managed to keep the remaining Telangana MLAs together in the party.
Then there is the Congress as well, which Naidu has to tackle. Congress is not in a mood to concede any political space for the TDP chief though elections are more than two and half years away. Pradesh Congress Committee president Botcha Satyanarayana does not mince words when he says “We have all the answers to the questions that Naidu might raise in the Assembly if he bids to bring a no-confidence motion against us. We have enough numbers in the Assembly. We are not all worried. Let Naidu say or do whatever he wants. We have an upper hand over him.”
On top of this, Congress is repeatedly taunting Naidu on why he was dragging his feet in facing the recent CBI probe ordered by the state High Court. Botcha makes a scathing remark when he says, “It is an excellent opportunity to tell the people that you are clean. If any allegations are made, a politician should always welcome a probe so that he can emerge unscathed.”
The recent shocks have been debilitating, but Nadiu being a seasoned politician is finding ways to mitigate the rising problems. Naidu in response has filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking an opportunity to be heard in the case. His contention was that the court before directing the CBI to inquire into his wealth did not ask him to file a counter to Vijayamma's petition.
The TDP believes that the petition of Vijayamma was intended to please the Congress so that Jagan Mohan Reddy could escape from the heat of the CBI investigation. TDP senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishunudu said that the trade off between Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Congress is very evident for any discerning person. In return for toning down the CBI investigation into this riches, Jagan Mohan Reddy, would stop a) attacking Sonia Gandhi, b) help it politically by trying to discredit Naidu through court petitions and c) support the UPA after the general elections in 2014. “Already, Jagan has fulfilled his first two tasks,” Ramakrishnudu explained the deal.
Naidu wants to turn the tables by moving a no confidence motion against the state government in the winter session on its “ineptitude” in addressing the grievances of farmers.
Last Updated : 20 Nov 2011 09:50:06 AM IST
HYDERABAD: At a time when things appeared to be working in his favour, the odds have suddenly stacked up against Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu. The first blow came from the state High Court, which by acting on the petition of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s mother Vijayamma, ordered a preliminary investigation by the CBI into his wealth.
The Telangana agitation also left Naidu’s edifice’s bruised and battered. The party lost seven of its MLAs, who changed sides to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. Finally, after the agitation has been called off, Naidu has managed to keep the remaining Telangana MLAs together in the party.
Then there is the Congress as well, which Naidu has to tackle. Congress is not in a mood to concede any political space for the TDP chief though elections are more than two and half years away. Pradesh Congress Committee president Botcha Satyanarayana does not mince words when he says “We have all the answers to the questions that Naidu might raise in the Assembly if he bids to bring a no-confidence motion against us. We have enough numbers in the Assembly. We are not all worried. Let Naidu say or do whatever he wants. We have an upper hand over him.”
On top of this, Congress is repeatedly taunting Naidu on why he was dragging his feet in facing the recent CBI probe ordered by the state High Court. Botcha makes a scathing remark when he says, “It is an excellent opportunity to tell the people that you are clean. If any allegations are made, a politician should always welcome a probe so that he can emerge unscathed.”
The recent shocks have been debilitating, but Nadiu being a seasoned politician is finding ways to mitigate the rising problems. Naidu in response has filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking an opportunity to be heard in the case. His contention was that the court before directing the CBI to inquire into his wealth did not ask him to file a counter to Vijayamma's petition.
The TDP believes that the petition of Vijayamma was intended to please the Congress so that Jagan Mohan Reddy could escape from the heat of the CBI investigation. TDP senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishunudu said that the trade off between Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Congress is very evident for any discerning person. In return for toning down the CBI investigation into this riches, Jagan Mohan Reddy, would stop a) attacking Sonia Gandhi, b) help it politically by trying to discredit Naidu through court petitions and c) support the UPA after the general elections in 2014. “Already, Jagan has fulfilled his first two tasks,” Ramakrishnudu explained the deal.
Naidu wants to turn the tables by moving a no confidence motion against the state government in the winter session on its “ineptitude” in addressing the grievances of farmers.
For Jagan and Naidu, home is where the ego is
V V Balakrishna
Last Updated : 13 Nov 2011 11:34:28 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The political rivalry between the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was legendary. Now, a couple of years after the demise of YSR, the battle still rages on with the late leader’s son and YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy
Stepping into the shoes of his father in this seemingly never-ending saga. If anything, the rivalry has taken a more personal turn.
The latest twist in this continuing drama came with Naidu accusing Jagan of having palatial buildings at several places in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Sakshi, the vernacular owned by Jagan, hit back with a story on the former Chief Minister’s house in the posh Jubilee Hills area in Hyderabad with a very hard-hitting headline: Abaddhala Babu Address Idi (This is the address of liar Babu).
Not one to take it lying down, Naidu’s TDP threw a challenge, seeking an independent enquiry by editors of all media houses on the houses of Jagan and Naidu to find out who owns the most expensive house.
“I have been in politics for 32 years but I have only a three-bedroom house. One is for my son Lokesh and another for me. The third is meant for guests,” Naidu claimed. But in just five years of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s chief ministership, his family had acquired huge palaces, Naidu alleged and repeatedly sought to highlight the houses the YSR family has in Pulivendula, Kadapa, Idupulapaya, Lotus Pond (Hyderabad) and Bangalore.
Disgraced mining magnate and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy too has a big house complete with golden chairs, golden beds and gold plates, Naidu said, wondering how they had earned such huge money in a short time.
Sakshi in its rebuttal trashed Naidu’s claim of a three bedroom house. It claimed the TDP chief’s house is worth `8.8 cr and is a three-storeyed building and pointed at deviations from the approved building plan.
Batting for Naidu, TDP politburo member K Yerran Naidu urged editors to judge the claims of both sides. “Jagan never allowed media into any of his houses including a big palace in Bangalore and one in Hyderabad,” he said.
He recalled that national political leaders had visited Naidu’s house several times and had lunch in the dining room. “Even the media was allowed to take photos in the dining room of Naidu. Jagan’s media is carrying fictitious stories on Naidu’s house,” he thundered.
Last Updated : 13 Nov 2011 11:34:28 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The political rivalry between the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was legendary. Now, a couple of years after the demise of YSR, the battle still rages on with the late leader’s son and YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy
Stepping into the shoes of his father in this seemingly never-ending saga. If anything, the rivalry has taken a more personal turn.
The latest twist in this continuing drama came with Naidu accusing Jagan of having palatial buildings at several places in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Sakshi, the vernacular owned by Jagan, hit back with a story on the former Chief Minister’s house in the posh Jubilee Hills area in Hyderabad with a very hard-hitting headline: Abaddhala Babu Address Idi (This is the address of liar Babu).
Not one to take it lying down, Naidu’s TDP threw a challenge, seeking an independent enquiry by editors of all media houses on the houses of Jagan and Naidu to find out who owns the most expensive house.
“I have been in politics for 32 years but I have only a three-bedroom house. One is for my son Lokesh and another for me. The third is meant for guests,” Naidu claimed. But in just five years of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s chief ministership, his family had acquired huge palaces, Naidu alleged and repeatedly sought to highlight the houses the YSR family has in Pulivendula, Kadapa, Idupulapaya, Lotus Pond (Hyderabad) and Bangalore.
Disgraced mining magnate and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy too has a big house complete with golden chairs, golden beds and gold plates, Naidu said, wondering how they had earned such huge money in a short time.
Sakshi in its rebuttal trashed Naidu’s claim of a three bedroom house. It claimed the TDP chief’s house is worth `8.8 cr and is a three-storeyed building and pointed at deviations from the approved building plan.
Batting for Naidu, TDP politburo member K Yerran Naidu urged editors to judge the claims of both sides. “Jagan never allowed media into any of his houses including a big palace in Bangalore and one in Hyderabad,” he said.
He recalled that national political leaders had visited Naidu’s house several times and had lunch in the dining room. “Even the media was allowed to take photos in the dining room of Naidu. Jagan’s media is carrying fictitious stories on Naidu’s house,” he thundered.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
TDP ‘humiliated’ in Parliament
Express News Service
Last Updated : 23 Nov 2011 10:11:39 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) faced humiliation in Parliament on Tuesday as the nameplate of its Parliamentary Party leader Nama Nageswara Rao on the TDP chamber was removed. Shocked over the incident, a TDP delegation, led by Rao, lodged a complaint with Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar.
The TDPP has been functioning from Chamber-5 in Parliament since 1985. However, the Lok Sabha officials recently wanted the TDP MPs to vacate the Chamber to accommodate DMK, which has more MPs than TDP. The tussle between the two regional parties from the south reached its peak in the last couple of months and TDP refused to vacate its Chamber.
“We have been using Chamber-5 for several years. Even when TDP had two MPs, we functioned from the same room,” Rao complained to the speaker. The TDPP protested the removal of nameplate without informing it.
TDP has now six Lok Sabha and four Rajya Sabha members. People used to come to Chamber-5 for the past 26 years. Changing the room now will cause severe inconvenience to people, he said. However, the speaker said she would discuss the matter with Rao later.
The TDPP leader also raised the non-allotment of an independent bungalow to him even after two and half years. “We are facing inconvenience even to address the media due to lack of independent room,” Rao said.
The TDP delegation submitted a list of 20 first-time MPs who got independent bungalows. “Even some former MPs are also continuing in the bungalows,” the TDP contended.
TDP MPs felt that it was nothing but humiliating the party, which has been fighting against corruption of the Congress government. “We will resist if the Lok Sabha staff wanted to forcibly vacate us from Chamber- 5,” an MP said.
Last Updated : 23 Nov 2011 10:11:39 AM IST
HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) faced humiliation in Parliament on Tuesday as the nameplate of its Parliamentary Party leader Nama Nageswara Rao on the TDP chamber was removed. Shocked over the incident, a TDP delegation, led by Rao, lodged a complaint with Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar.
The TDPP has been functioning from Chamber-5 in Parliament since 1985. However, the Lok Sabha officials recently wanted the TDP MPs to vacate the Chamber to accommodate DMK, which has more MPs than TDP. The tussle between the two regional parties from the south reached its peak in the last couple of months and TDP refused to vacate its Chamber.
“We have been using Chamber-5 for several years. Even when TDP had two MPs, we functioned from the same room,” Rao complained to the speaker. The TDPP protested the removal of nameplate without informing it.
TDP has now six Lok Sabha and four Rajya Sabha members. People used to come to Chamber-5 for the past 26 years. Changing the room now will cause severe inconvenience to people, he said. However, the speaker said she would discuss the matter with Rao later.
The TDPP leader also raised the non-allotment of an independent bungalow to him even after two and half years. “We are facing inconvenience even to address the media due to lack of independent room,” Rao said.
The TDP delegation submitted a list of 20 first-time MPs who got independent bungalows. “Even some former MPs are also continuing in the bungalows,” the TDP contended.
TDP MPs felt that it was nothing but humiliating the party, which has been fighting against corruption of the Congress government. “We will resist if the Lok Sabha staff wanted to forcibly vacate us from Chamber- 5,” an MP said.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Naidu's Men Go to SC Against CBI Probe The TDP boss chooses not to file an appeal himself
Hyderabad: Some of the people who were named as respondents in the High Court order directing a probe into the assets of Chandrababu Naidu on Monday knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court seeking relief from the probe. The TDP boss himself chose not to file an appeal in the apext court against the High Court order.
Responding to a petition filed by YSR Congress Party honorary president Y S Vijayamma, the High Court had recently ordered a probe into the assets of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and 11 other respondents.
As TDP president Naidu did not want to go to the Supreme Court in appeal himself, some of the other respondents including C M Ramesh of the Ritwik Group, Y Satyanarayana Chowdary of the Sujana group, Nama Nageshwara Rao of Madhucon Group, filed separate special leave petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
The Supreme Court is yet to admit their petition.
Speaking to reporters after filing the petitions, C M Ramesh said they filed the petitions as individuals and businessmen rather than as members of the TDP.
"We have businesses. The interests of our shareholders, employees, and bankers have to be protected. That is why we have moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order," Ramesh said.
He said that Naidu was unwilling to go to the Supreme Court himself and that their petitions had nothing to do with the TDP. "Vijayamma's petition alleged that my Ritwik Group is a benami company of Naidu. That is not a fact. I have neither taken any benefit from the state government nor have I ever been involved in any corrupt practices," Ramesh added.
He said Vijayamma filed a petition against him as he hails from Kadapa and was continuing in the TDP. Ramesh said that the High Court did not hear the version of the respondents. "We wanted the Supreme Court to suspend the High Court order on to the CBI probe. We wanted the High Court to listen to our version," he said.
Responding to a petition filed by YSR Congress Party honorary president Y S Vijayamma, the High Court had recently ordered a probe into the assets of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and 11 other respondents.
As TDP president Naidu did not want to go to the Supreme Court in appeal himself, some of the other respondents including C M Ramesh of the Ritwik Group, Y Satyanarayana Chowdary of the Sujana group, Nama Nageshwara Rao of Madhucon Group, filed separate special leave petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
The Supreme Court is yet to admit their petition.
Speaking to reporters after filing the petitions, C M Ramesh said they filed the petitions as individuals and businessmen rather than as members of the TDP.
"We have businesses. The interests of our shareholders, employees, and bankers have to be protected. That is why we have moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order," Ramesh said.
He said that Naidu was unwilling to go to the Supreme Court himself and that their petitions had nothing to do with the TDP. "Vijayamma's petition alleged that my Ritwik Group is a benami company of Naidu. That is not a fact. I have neither taken any benefit from the state government nor have I ever been involved in any corrupt practices," Ramesh added.
He said Vijayamma filed a petition against him as he hails from Kadapa and was continuing in the TDP. Ramesh said that the High Court did not hear the version of the respondents. "We wanted the Supreme Court to suspend the High Court order on to the CBI probe. We wanted the High Court to listen to our version," he said.
`Probe a Conspiracy to Prevent Naidu from Coming to Power'
`CONG-JAGAN DEAL'
TDP MLA says 23 probes ordered by YSR could not prove a charge
Hyderabad: The CBI probe against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is a conspiracy hatched by the ruling Congress to prevent the TDP from coming to power in the 2014 elections, TDP MLA Motkupalli Narasimhulu has alleged.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government had constituted as many as 11 House committees, four commission of enquiries, three cabinet sub-committees, four high-level official enquiries and one CBCID probe into the decisions taken by the then TDP government. But the Congress government could not prove any of the allegations even after 23 probes against Naidu, Narasimhulu claimed and said the same issues were raised by Rajasekhara Reddy's widow YS Vijayamma in her petition in the High Court, which ordered a probe into Naidu's assets.
Rajasekhara Reddy, as chief minister, did not discharge his duties to solve the public issues and mainly focused on Naidu's decisions, the TDP leader said and alleged that after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had surrendered to the Congress, his mother filed the petition against Naidu. This was a deal struck by Jagan with the Congress high command, Narsimhulu alleged.
Another MLA, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, said that it was not fair to blackmail opposition parties with CBI probe. There was no quid pro quo case in Naidu's decisions but Jagan's companies received investments as a gratitude towards the work done by the Congress government, he added.
At another press conference, another TDP MLA M Linga Reddy said that Jagan mortgaged his party to the Congress. That was why he was prompting his MLAs to rejoin the Congress, he allegeed.
Probe panels set up by
YSR govt against Naidu
House committees
* Land allotment to IMAX theatre
* Vizag, Chittoor, Ongole co-op milk societies
* Allotment of land to Housing Board
* Irregularities in payment of scholarships
* Land to Autonagar in LB Nagar
* Irregularities in Republic Forge Company
* Permissions to Jal Vihar and Eat Street near Tank Bund
* Irregularities in social welfare hostels
* Irregularities in purchasing computers for primary schools
Judicial commissions
* Yeleru scam
* Israeli project in Kuppam
* Suicides by farmers, weavers
* Food-for-work programme
Cabinet sub-committees
* Power purchase agreements
* Allotment of lands on the outskirts of Hyderabad
* Land agreements
Official enquiries
* APCOB
* Weaker sections housing programme
* Diversion of funds from civil supplies dept
* Purchase of temple lands in Guntur district
CBCID probe
* Konaseema power project
TDP MLA says 23 probes ordered by YSR could not prove a charge
Hyderabad: The CBI probe against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is a conspiracy hatched by the ruling Congress to prevent the TDP from coming to power in the 2014 elections, TDP MLA Motkupalli Narasimhulu has alleged.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government had constituted as many as 11 House committees, four commission of enquiries, three cabinet sub-committees, four high-level official enquiries and one CBCID probe into the decisions taken by the then TDP government. But the Congress government could not prove any of the allegations even after 23 probes against Naidu, Narasimhulu claimed and said the same issues were raised by Rajasekhara Reddy's widow YS Vijayamma in her petition in the High Court, which ordered a probe into Naidu's assets.
Rajasekhara Reddy, as chief minister, did not discharge his duties to solve the public issues and mainly focused on Naidu's decisions, the TDP leader said and alleged that after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had surrendered to the Congress, his mother filed the petition against Naidu. This was a deal struck by Jagan with the Congress high command, Narsimhulu alleged.
Another MLA, Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, said that it was not fair to blackmail opposition parties with CBI probe. There was no quid pro quo case in Naidu's decisions but Jagan's companies received investments as a gratitude towards the work done by the Congress government, he added.
At another press conference, another TDP MLA M Linga Reddy said that Jagan mortgaged his party to the Congress. That was why he was prompting his MLAs to rejoin the Congress, he allegeed.
Probe panels set up by
YSR govt against Naidu
House committees
* Land allotment to IMAX theatre
* Vizag, Chittoor, Ongole co-op milk societies
* Allotment of land to Housing Board
* Irregularities in payment of scholarships
* Land to Autonagar in LB Nagar
* Irregularities in Republic Forge Company
* Permissions to Jal Vihar and Eat Street near Tank Bund
* Irregularities in social welfare hostels
* Irregularities in purchasing computers for primary schools
Judicial commissions
* Yeleru scam
* Israeli project in Kuppam
* Suicides by farmers, weavers
* Food-for-work programme
Cabinet sub-committees
* Power purchase agreements
* Allotment of lands on the outskirts of Hyderabad
* Land agreements
Official enquiries
* APCOB
* Weaker sections housing programme
* Diversion of funds from civil supplies dept
* Purchase of temple lands in Guntur district
CBCID probe
* Konaseema power project
Don’t misuse CBI, Naidu tells Cong
TDP chief to hold round table meet on ryot issues in Delhi today
Express News Service
Hyderabad: Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday demanded that the CBI should act independently.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi after meeting CPI general secretary AB Bardhan, Naidu said the CBI had become a tool in the hands of the ruling Congress.
The TDP chief went to Delhi to discuss ryot issues with national leaders. Naidu will hold a round-table conference on farmers’ issues on Monday.
After meeting Bardhan, Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United) and other national leaders, Naidu made it clear that he would not move the Supreme Court challenging the
Andhra Pradesh High Court’s direction to the CBI to conduct a probe into his assets.
“As many as 23 commissions of inquiry were ordered into my government’s decisions by
former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. But, he could not prove a single allegation against me,” Naidu said.
The TDP chief took documentary evidence along with him to tell the national leaders that all the allegations made by Rajasekhara Reddy in the past against him were false. The same issues were raised time and again by Congress leaders. He also said there were no new contents in the petition filed by YSR Congress honorary president YS Vijayamma in the High Court seeking a CBI probe against him.
Bardhan said the ruling Congress used the CBI as a tool to suppress its political opponents on several occasions earlier. Misusing the CBI is not new to the Congress, he added.
Express News Service
Hyderabad: Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday demanded that the CBI should act independently.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi after meeting CPI general secretary AB Bardhan, Naidu said the CBI had become a tool in the hands of the ruling Congress.
The TDP chief went to Delhi to discuss ryot issues with national leaders. Naidu will hold a round-table conference on farmers’ issues on Monday.
After meeting Bardhan, Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United) and other national leaders, Naidu made it clear that he would not move the Supreme Court challenging the
Andhra Pradesh High Court’s direction to the CBI to conduct a probe into his assets.
“As many as 23 commissions of inquiry were ordered into my government’s decisions by
former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. But, he could not prove a single allegation against me,” Naidu said.
The TDP chief took documentary evidence along with him to tell the national leaders that all the allegations made by Rajasekhara Reddy in the past against him were false. The same issues were raised time and again by Congress leaders. He also said there were no new contents in the petition filed by YSR Congress honorary president YS Vijayamma in the High Court seeking a CBI probe against him.
Bardhan said the ruling Congress used the CBI as a tool to suppress its political opponents on several occasions earlier. Misusing the CBI is not new to the Congress, he added.
TDP to drag YSR cabinet ministers in legal battle
CBI PROBE AGAINST NAIDU
‘98 per cent of 64 mega projects sanctioned by the TDP government were cleared by the YSR regime’
Express News Service
Hyderabad: The Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to drag eight cabinet ministers of the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government and also the then cabinet sub-committee members K Rosaiah, Botcha Satyanarayana and J Geetha Reddy in the legal battle against the CBI probe.
The projects mentioned in the petition filed by YSR Congress honorary president YS Vijayamma in the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the ‘riches’ of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, were later approved by YSR as chief minister who doled out several sops to the companies.
In fact, YSR had cleared 98 per cent of mega projects sanctioned by the TDP government and took a huge amount of money from promoters. Later, he shared it with AICC president Sonia Gandhi, TDP leaders alleged at a regular press briefing on Saturday.
If Vijayamma wanted an investigation into the projects sanctioned by former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, then YSR cabinet ministers and members of the cabinet sub-committee who cleared the projects, should also be questioned in this connection, the TDP leaders said.
TDP senior leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, K Yerran Naidu and Dadi Veerabhadra Rao recalled that as an Opposition leader YSR made serious allegations against Naidu for sanctioning 64 mega projects. After coming to power, YSR cleared 98 per cent of the projects.
“YSR got money for clearing the projects and also announced several sops to them. He collected a huge amount of money from the promoters for doing favour to the industries and sent a portion of it to Sonia Gandhi. The money got by YSR was later invested in Sakshi paper,” they said.
“YSR got money and his son Jagan is enjoying it. So we want to launch a legal attack on the cabinet ministers of YSR and three members of the cabinet sub-committee,” the TDP leaders said.
“By clearing all the projects after repeated allegations against Naidu, YSR had proved that the former TDP chief minister did no wrong,” Ramakrishnudu said.
Citing an example, he said YSR who found fault with the TDP government for allotting 50 acres of land to Aga Khan Educational Trust, allotted an additional 50 acres to it after becoming the chief minister. He also allotted an additional land of 1,000 acres to the Gangavaram Port
“We will not leave the then cabinet ministers, Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders. We will proceed legally against them,” he added.
‘98 per cent of 64 mega projects sanctioned by the TDP government were cleared by the YSR regime’
Express News Service
Hyderabad: The Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to drag eight cabinet ministers of the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government and also the then cabinet sub-committee members K Rosaiah, Botcha Satyanarayana and J Geetha Reddy in the legal battle against the CBI probe.
The projects mentioned in the petition filed by YSR Congress honorary president YS Vijayamma in the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the ‘riches’ of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, were later approved by YSR as chief minister who doled out several sops to the companies.
In fact, YSR had cleared 98 per cent of mega projects sanctioned by the TDP government and took a huge amount of money from promoters. Later, he shared it with AICC president Sonia Gandhi, TDP leaders alleged at a regular press briefing on Saturday.
If Vijayamma wanted an investigation into the projects sanctioned by former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, then YSR cabinet ministers and members of the cabinet sub-committee who cleared the projects, should also be questioned in this connection, the TDP leaders said.
TDP senior leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, K Yerran Naidu and Dadi Veerabhadra Rao recalled that as an Opposition leader YSR made serious allegations against Naidu for sanctioning 64 mega projects. After coming to power, YSR cleared 98 per cent of the projects.
“YSR got money for clearing the projects and also announced several sops to them. He collected a huge amount of money from the promoters for doing favour to the industries and sent a portion of it to Sonia Gandhi. The money got by YSR was later invested in Sakshi paper,” they said.
“YSR got money and his son Jagan is enjoying it. So we want to launch a legal attack on the cabinet ministers of YSR and three members of the cabinet sub-committee,” the TDP leaders said.
“By clearing all the projects after repeated allegations against Naidu, YSR had proved that the former TDP chief minister did no wrong,” Ramakrishnudu said.
Citing an example, he said YSR who found fault with the TDP government for allotting 50 acres of land to Aga Khan Educational Trust, allotted an additional 50 acres to it after becoming the chief minister. He also allotted an additional land of 1,000 acres to the Gangavaram Port
“We will not leave the then cabinet ministers, Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders. We will proceed legally against them,” he added.
Thursday 17 November 2011
CBI Probe Could Be Advantage Naidu
VV Balakrishna
slug: Three Options
strap: TD chief's political image will be enhanced if CBI's preliminary probe gives him a clean chit, feel TD leaders
Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu, who feels he was denied 'natural justice' in the matter of high court ordering a CBI probe into his assets, is exploring various legal options available to him.
According to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sources, Naidu can choose to file a review petition in the High Court to reconsider its order of a CBI probe into his assets or file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
However, Naidu will consider the political impact before challenging the high court order. "If he challenged the order either in the high court or the Supreme Court, it may send wrong signals that Naidu is trying to thwart a CBI probe," a TDP leader said. Naidu will choose his course of action only after carefully considering all aspects of the issue, he added.
In fact, Naidu would gain a political advantage if the preliminary investigation of the CBI proved that he was clean. Therefore, it was also possible that Naidu might not challenge the High Court order but would wait till the CBI completed its preliminary inquiry in the next three months as directed by the court, another TD leader felt.
TDP leaders in general are confident that all the issues raised by Vijayamma were earlier unsuccessfully challenged in the court by her husband Rajasekhara Reddy and other Congress leaders in as many as 17 courts, including SC and Delhi High Court, and a similar outcome would be there this time too.
"The past judgments gave Naidu a clean chit and some cases were withdrawn by Congress leaders themselves as they could not substantiate their allegations," TDP leader Tummala Nageswara Rao has said.
"We never said no to a CBI probe, nor are we worried that something will happen to Naidu due to the CBI probe. We are prepared for any thing as the petition filed by Vijayamma is ridiculous and inconsistent," Nageswara Rao said.
slug: Three Options
strap: TD chief's political image will be enhanced if CBI's preliminary probe gives him a clean chit, feel TD leaders
Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu, who feels he was denied 'natural justice' in the matter of high court ordering a CBI probe into his assets, is exploring various legal options available to him.
According to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sources, Naidu can choose to file a review petition in the High Court to reconsider its order of a CBI probe into his assets or file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order.
However, Naidu will consider the political impact before challenging the high court order. "If he challenged the order either in the high court or the Supreme Court, it may send wrong signals that Naidu is trying to thwart a CBI probe," a TDP leader said. Naidu will choose his course of action only after carefully considering all aspects of the issue, he added.
In fact, Naidu would gain a political advantage if the preliminary investigation of the CBI proved that he was clean. Therefore, it was also possible that Naidu might not challenge the High Court order but would wait till the CBI completed its preliminary inquiry in the next three months as directed by the court, another TD leader felt.
TDP leaders in general are confident that all the issues raised by Vijayamma were earlier unsuccessfully challenged in the court by her husband Rajasekhara Reddy and other Congress leaders in as many as 17 courts, including SC and Delhi High Court, and a similar outcome would be there this time too.
"The past judgments gave Naidu a clean chit and some cases were withdrawn by Congress leaders themselves as they could not substantiate their allegations," TDP leader Tummala Nageswara Rao has said.
"We never said no to a CBI probe, nor are we worried that something will happen to Naidu due to the CBI probe. We are prepared for any thing as the petition filed by Vijayamma is ridiculous and inconsistent," Nageswara Rao said.
TDP puts ‘facts’ before people
PROBE AGAINST NAIDU
The charges levelled by the YSRC against the TDP chief were baseless and politically motivated, says Revanth Reddy
Express News Service
Hyderabad: Though the Telugu Desam Party leadership is yet to decide on what legal recourse to be taken on the direction of High Court to the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and SEBI to conduct a preliminary investigation independently into N Chandrababu Naidu's assets, the TDP leaders on Tuesday sought to put ‘facts’ before people.
At a media conference, TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy explained the ‘facts’ pertaining to the contents in MLA YS Vijayamma's petition in the High Court seeking a probe into ‘huge wealth amassed’ by the former chief minister during his regime. In the petition, the YSRC Congress leader stated that Naidu has a hotel in Singapore on a benami name. She also
attached a photograph of the hotel in Singapore. But she failed to establish the link between the hotel management and the TDP chief. “Vijayamma can also submit a photo of the White House and contend that it belongs to Naidu,” Revanth Reddy ridiculed.
On the charge of Naidu bringing the international airport to Shamshabad to jack up the prices of land of Ramoji Rao and others, Revanth Reddy said it was the Central Government which finalised the place and tenders of the airport project.
An international company examined Bongulur, Nadargul and Shamshabad for constructing the airport. Finally, it selected Shamshabad and the global tenders were finalised by the Centre. If Naidu wanted to benefit Ramoji Rao, he would have suggested Nadargul for setting up the airport as it is very close to Ramoji Film City, he said.
On Kakinada port project, the TDP MLA said the allegations levelled by Vijayamma against Naidu were false. He pointed out that Naidu as chief minister saw that the state government gets 25 stake in it. But former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the agreement later and decreased the state’s share to 22 per cent in Kakinada port. YSR also gave full rights to Karnati Venkateswara Rao to allot berths in Kakinada port, he said.
On Reliance gas project, Revanth Reddy said international bids were invited and finalised by the Centre for eight wells in the K-G Basin and the state government had no role in it.
On power purchase agreements, the MLA said YSR who levelled serious allegations against Naidu, as a chief minister constituted a cabinet sub-committee to look into the PPAs. The committee approved the decisions taken by the previous TDP government, he said.
YSRC leaders are repeatedly alleging that GVK, Reddy’s Labs, L&T and Reliance were major beneficiaries of Naidu regime. “But they failed to include all these companies as respondents in their petition,” Revanth Reddy said, terming the charges were baseless and politically motivated.
Vijayamma who filed the petition in the High Court with a mala fide intention, was trying to mislead the court, Revanth Reddy said.
The charges levelled by the YSRC against the TDP chief were baseless and politically motivated, says Revanth Reddy
Express News Service
Hyderabad: Though the Telugu Desam Party leadership is yet to decide on what legal recourse to be taken on the direction of High Court to the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and SEBI to conduct a preliminary investigation independently into N Chandrababu Naidu's assets, the TDP leaders on Tuesday sought to put ‘facts’ before people.
At a media conference, TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy explained the ‘facts’ pertaining to the contents in MLA YS Vijayamma's petition in the High Court seeking a probe into ‘huge wealth amassed’ by the former chief minister during his regime. In the petition, the YSRC Congress leader stated that Naidu has a hotel in Singapore on a benami name. She also
attached a photograph of the hotel in Singapore. But she failed to establish the link between the hotel management and the TDP chief. “Vijayamma can also submit a photo of the White House and contend that it belongs to Naidu,” Revanth Reddy ridiculed.
On the charge of Naidu bringing the international airport to Shamshabad to jack up the prices of land of Ramoji Rao and others, Revanth Reddy said it was the Central Government which finalised the place and tenders of the airport project.
An international company examined Bongulur, Nadargul and Shamshabad for constructing the airport. Finally, it selected Shamshabad and the global tenders were finalised by the Centre. If Naidu wanted to benefit Ramoji Rao, he would have suggested Nadargul for setting up the airport as it is very close to Ramoji Film City, he said.
On Kakinada port project, the TDP MLA said the allegations levelled by Vijayamma against Naidu were false. He pointed out that Naidu as chief minister saw that the state government gets 25 stake in it. But former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the agreement later and decreased the state’s share to 22 per cent in Kakinada port. YSR also gave full rights to Karnati Venkateswara Rao to allot berths in Kakinada port, he said.
On Reliance gas project, Revanth Reddy said international bids were invited and finalised by the Centre for eight wells in the K-G Basin and the state government had no role in it.
On power purchase agreements, the MLA said YSR who levelled serious allegations against Naidu, as a chief minister constituted a cabinet sub-committee to look into the PPAs. The committee approved the decisions taken by the previous TDP government, he said.
YSRC leaders are repeatedly alleging that GVK, Reddy’s Labs, L&T and Reliance were major beneficiaries of Naidu regime. “But they failed to include all these companies as respondents in their petition,” Revanth Reddy said, terming the charges were baseless and politically motivated.
Vijayamma who filed the petition in the High Court with a mala fide intention, was trying to mislead the court, Revanth Reddy said.
Allegations, Highlights of Vijayamma's Plea Against Naidu
YS Vijayamma, Pulivendula legislator and wife of the late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, filed a petition in the AP High Court on October 17 seeking a CBI probe into the assets of Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu, following which the court had ordered an inquiry on Monday. The following are some of the highlights and the allegations made by her in the petition.
Offences under Various Laws
Vijayamma alleged that TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and other respondents committed various offences including those under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, FEMA, the Representation of the People Act, the AP Land Grabbing Act and the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act.
Land Purchases
The petition said Chandrababu Naidu inherited a meagre two acres of agricultural land in a family partition before 1986. The property is situated in his native village of Naravaripalle in Chittoor district. In a subsequent affidavit, Chandrababu Naidu said he had sold his share of the land and bought lands in Nindali and Vakhyam villages of Nellore, from which he was earning an income of Rs 36,000 per annum. However, he purchased 65 acres of agricultural land through his family members at a low rate of about Rs 1,000 per acre in 1985. Soon thereafter, another 250 acres were purchased benami by Naidu in Sy. Nos. 19, 20, 119, 127, 129, 131, 132 and 138.
Land near Hitec City
Vijayamma alleged that in 1989 a family firm called Rama Agricultural Farms consisting of Naidu’s mother, wife, son and a relative P Dasaiah Naidu purchased 3.276 acres of land in
Kondapur, half-a-kilometre from the Hitec City, for Rs 1 lakh at the rate of Rs 30,487 per acre. The sources of these funds remain unknown.
In 1996, an announcement was made by the government headed by Naidu that an Infotech park called Hitec City would be established in the area abutting Kondapur. As a result, the value of the land held by Rama Agricultural Farms multiplied providing substantial pecuniary benefit to the
holders of the land.
Favours to Kin, Friends
Naidu, when he was the chief minister, selectively leaked the policy formulations of the State in advance for the benefit of individuals and private entities related to him. The site and location of infrastructural projects envisaged or potential sites for such development was leaked out to the firms and entities owned and promoted by Ramoji Rao and Maganti Murali Mohan of Jayabheri Properties. The location and the extents of lands owned by the above named individuals/entities and several others are evidences in this regard. All such favours need to be examined and misuse of power amounting to loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to innocent farmers and land owners ought to be suitably redressed, the petition said.
Satyam Raju's Funds for Lokesh's Education?
Naidu's only son Lokesh was a mediocre student who passed intermediate in science stream with just over 50 percent marks. However, Lokesh obtained his Bachelors Degree (1997-2000) from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University and his Masters (2000-2002) from Stanford University in the USA. Huge amounts were donated from unknown Indian sources - Rs 10 crore to Carnegie Mellon and Rs 12 crore to Stanford. There is reason to believe that these payments came from the accounts of Satyam’s Ramalinga Raju in return for the various benefits offered to him, the petition alleged.
Benamis for Financial Benefits
Naidu has evidently used his mother, his wife and his son to be the conduits of money laundering and also to obtain benefits from the various corporate houses that he has favoured. Apart from the three family members, he has also utilised the services of several small-time businessmen and
made them recipients of State's largesse and benamis for his illegal transactions. They were rewarded both financially and with posts in the TDP and also Rajya Sabha seats, Vijayamma alleged.
Money Laundering Routes
There were several ingenious ways and means adopted by Naidu to launder his money through YS Chowdary (of Sujana group) and his group companies. Chowdary first established a slew of companies to bring Naidu's money under the corporate umbrella. He created circular transactions among his corporate entities, thereby orchestrating purchases and sales entries running into thousands of crores avoiding taxes. There were many cases pending against Chowdary's group companies in various courts, the petitioner claimed.
Foreign Links
Almost all the contracts like Kakinada Sea Ports, Raintree Park at Hyderabad, GMR International Airport, Ascendas IT Park, AP Gems and Jewellery Park and Emaar township were awarded to international companies from Malaysia, Singapore or UAE during Naidu's regime. The then prime minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammed had stepped down after facing severe corruption charges in his country. Naidu’s friendship with Mahathir is well-known. Mirzan Bin
Mahathir, the elder son of Mahathir Mohammed, was the chairman of the International Seaports Consortium and even has a majority stake in the said company which got the Kakinada
sea port contract under Public-private partnership basis, Vijayamma contended.
Offences under Various Laws
Vijayamma alleged that TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and other respondents committed various offences including those under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, FEMA, the Representation of the People Act, the AP Land Grabbing Act and the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act.
Land Purchases
The petition said Chandrababu Naidu inherited a meagre two acres of agricultural land in a family partition before 1986. The property is situated in his native village of Naravaripalle in Chittoor district. In a subsequent affidavit, Chandrababu Naidu said he had sold his share of the land and bought lands in Nindali and Vakhyam villages of Nellore, from which he was earning an income of Rs 36,000 per annum. However, he purchased 65 acres of agricultural land through his family members at a low rate of about Rs 1,000 per acre in 1985. Soon thereafter, another 250 acres were purchased benami by Naidu in Sy. Nos. 19, 20, 119, 127, 129, 131, 132 and 138.
Land near Hitec City
Vijayamma alleged that in 1989 a family firm called Rama Agricultural Farms consisting of Naidu’s mother, wife, son and a relative P Dasaiah Naidu purchased 3.276 acres of land in
Kondapur, half-a-kilometre from the Hitec City, for Rs 1 lakh at the rate of Rs 30,487 per acre. The sources of these funds remain unknown.
In 1996, an announcement was made by the government headed by Naidu that an Infotech park called Hitec City would be established in the area abutting Kondapur. As a result, the value of the land held by Rama Agricultural Farms multiplied providing substantial pecuniary benefit to the
holders of the land.
Favours to Kin, Friends
Naidu, when he was the chief minister, selectively leaked the policy formulations of the State in advance for the benefit of individuals and private entities related to him. The site and location of infrastructural projects envisaged or potential sites for such development was leaked out to the firms and entities owned and promoted by Ramoji Rao and Maganti Murali Mohan of Jayabheri Properties. The location and the extents of lands owned by the above named individuals/entities and several others are evidences in this regard. All such favours need to be examined and misuse of power amounting to loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to innocent farmers and land owners ought to be suitably redressed, the petition said.
Satyam Raju's Funds for Lokesh's Education?
Naidu's only son Lokesh was a mediocre student who passed intermediate in science stream with just over 50 percent marks. However, Lokesh obtained his Bachelors Degree (1997-2000) from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University and his Masters (2000-2002) from Stanford University in the USA. Huge amounts were donated from unknown Indian sources - Rs 10 crore to Carnegie Mellon and Rs 12 crore to Stanford. There is reason to believe that these payments came from the accounts of Satyam’s Ramalinga Raju in return for the various benefits offered to him, the petition alleged.
Benamis for Financial Benefits
Naidu has evidently used his mother, his wife and his son to be the conduits of money laundering and also to obtain benefits from the various corporate houses that he has favoured. Apart from the three family members, he has also utilised the services of several small-time businessmen and
made them recipients of State's largesse and benamis for his illegal transactions. They were rewarded both financially and with posts in the TDP and also Rajya Sabha seats, Vijayamma alleged.
Money Laundering Routes
There were several ingenious ways and means adopted by Naidu to launder his money through YS Chowdary (of Sujana group) and his group companies. Chowdary first established a slew of companies to bring Naidu's money under the corporate umbrella. He created circular transactions among his corporate entities, thereby orchestrating purchases and sales entries running into thousands of crores avoiding taxes. There were many cases pending against Chowdary's group companies in various courts, the petitioner claimed.
Foreign Links
Almost all the contracts like Kakinada Sea Ports, Raintree Park at Hyderabad, GMR International Airport, Ascendas IT Park, AP Gems and Jewellery Park and Emaar township were awarded to international companies from Malaysia, Singapore or UAE during Naidu's regime. The then prime minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammed had stepped down after facing severe corruption charges in his country. Naidu’s friendship with Mahathir is well-known. Mirzan Bin
Mahathir, the elder son of Mahathir Mohammed, was the chairman of the International Seaports Consortium and even has a majority stake in the said company which got the Kakinada
sea port contract under Public-private partnership basis, Vijayamma contended.
I Was Denied Natural Justice: Naidu
TO SEEK LEGAL REMEDY
Ordering a probe without issuing a notice is unfair, says TDP chief
Hyderabad: After the High Court ordered a CBI probe into his assets, opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu has said the court should have served a notice to him and sought clarification before ordering a probe.
"Had the court served notices, I would have explained the facts. Without seeking my clarification, a probe has been ordered which is against the principles of natural justice," Naidu told reporters in Vizianagaram, where he is on a padaytara, on Monday.
The Telugu Desam chief said he would take legal steps on denial of "natural justice" after consulting legal experts and party seniors.
"I have disclosed my assets and assets of all my family members. I have already declared that if any one says that I have benami assets I offered to give the same to them. I have also offered one per cent of my assets to those who brought the so-called benami properties of mine into light," Naidu said.
Naidu recalled that the then Congress leader YS Rajasekhara Reddy had filed as many as 18 petitions in the Supreme Court, the AP High Court and in the Delhi High Court. Congress leaders Kanna Lakshminarayana and P Upendera too filed several cases. But the cases failed to stand in the court of law. "Even after YS Rajasekhara Reddy became chief minister he set up 24 commissions of enquiry against me but could not prove any allegation,'' he recalled.
``Had the court served a notice before ordering a probe, we would have taken all these facts to the court. And the Court would have heard the facts before its action. As TDP leaders filed a case against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the court, they filed a case against me," Naidu said.
In a press release TDP leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao pointed out that the court ordered CBI probe into illegal assets of Jagan after hearing the arguments of both the parties. But the court did not complete the arguments of Vijayamma's advocate in Naidu's case and ordered a probe against Naidu. This is against the principles of natural justice,'' he said.
"We expected that the court will seek clarification from Naidu before its action. We respect the court's decision. But, at the same time, we will take legal action demanding natural justice," the TDP leader declared.
quotes
I have disclosed my assets and thoseof all my family members. I have also offered to give it away if any one says that I have benami assets. _ N Cahndrababu Naidu, TDP chief
After YSR became CM, he set up 24 commissions of enquiry against me but could not prove any allegation. _ N Cahndrababu Naidu, TDP chief
Ordering a probe without issuing a notice is unfair, says TDP chief
Hyderabad: After the High Court ordered a CBI probe into his assets, opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu has said the court should have served a notice to him and sought clarification before ordering a probe.
"Had the court served notices, I would have explained the facts. Without seeking my clarification, a probe has been ordered which is against the principles of natural justice," Naidu told reporters in Vizianagaram, where he is on a padaytara, on Monday.
The Telugu Desam chief said he would take legal steps on denial of "natural justice" after consulting legal experts and party seniors.
"I have disclosed my assets and assets of all my family members. I have already declared that if any one says that I have benami assets I offered to give the same to them. I have also offered one per cent of my assets to those who brought the so-called benami properties of mine into light," Naidu said.
Naidu recalled that the then Congress leader YS Rajasekhara Reddy had filed as many as 18 petitions in the Supreme Court, the AP High Court and in the Delhi High Court. Congress leaders Kanna Lakshminarayana and P Upendera too filed several cases. But the cases failed to stand in the court of law. "Even after YS Rajasekhara Reddy became chief minister he set up 24 commissions of enquiry against me but could not prove any allegation,'' he recalled.
``Had the court served a notice before ordering a probe, we would have taken all these facts to the court. And the Court would have heard the facts before its action. As TDP leaders filed a case against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the court, they filed a case against me," Naidu said.
In a press release TDP leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao pointed out that the court ordered CBI probe into illegal assets of Jagan after hearing the arguments of both the parties. But the court did not complete the arguments of Vijayamma's advocate in Naidu's case and ordered a probe against Naidu. This is against the principles of natural justice,'' he said.
"We expected that the court will seek clarification from Naidu before its action. We respect the court's decision. But, at the same time, we will take legal action demanding natural justice," the TDP leader declared.
quotes
I have disclosed my assets and thoseof all my family members. I have also offered to give it away if any one says that I have benami assets. _ N Cahndrababu Naidu, TDP chief
After YSR became CM, he set up 24 commissions of enquiry against me but could not prove any allegation. _ N Cahndrababu Naidu, TDP chief
Success of Naidu's T Tour Enthuses TDP Rank & File
PEOPLE'S MOOD CHANGING?
TDP chief encounters little hostility during padayatra
Hyderabad: The success of opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu's recent Rytu Poru Bata padayatra in two Telangana districts has enthused Telugu Desam cadres who perceive it as an indication of the change in the mood of the people in favour of the party.
The response to Naidu's tour of Khammam and Nalgonda districts was not hostile and was more than anticipated at some places.
Another interesting change was that there were only "Jai Chandrababu and Jai TDP" slogans and no one heard about "Jai Telangana" during the padayatra. Interestingly, unlike in the past, no TRS activist obstructed Naidu's tour.
In Khammam not much trouble was expected because the areas he was touring was dominated by settlers. What came as a surprise was total lack of hostility to his tour of Suryapet in Nalgonda district.
"That is an indication that people are vexed with repeated bandhs and they wanted a change," a senior party leader from Warangal district said. "After the success of his Nalgonda tour, party workers at Station Ghanpur are demanding that Naidu tour their areas too," another leader said, taking the success of Nadiu's tour a bit too far.
"Naidu has been fighting for the cause of farmers. There is another leader (read TRS chief KCR) to fight for Telangana. We want to support Naidu who came for us in this hour of trouble," a tribal man in Nalgonda district said.
"MLA Narasimhulu has been fighting for Telangana. Naidu never said `no' to him. It means that Naidu is not against Telangana," another person analysed without going into the logic of Naidu's two-eyed policy.
In the past, whenever Naidu toured Telangana, TRS activists used to obstruct his convoy and hurl eggs and stones on him. "There are no such scenes now. With the change in the public mood, the migration of TDP leaders, particularly MLAs, to the TRS might stop," another leader said hopefully.
TDP leaders analyse that the people are turning to the TDP because the Congress is temporising to delay a decision on Telangana and because of the break in the Sakala Janula Samme and, more importantly, people are suffering because of repeated bandhs. Another reason for the people to look to the TDP is the campaign that the TRS leaders had struck a deal with the Congress to grab the Polavaram tender, he said.
quote
During Naidu's tours in the past, TRS activists obstructed his convoy and hurled eggs and stones. There are no such scenes now. _ A TDP leader
TDP chief encounters little hostility during padayatra
Hyderabad: The success of opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu's recent Rytu Poru Bata padayatra in two Telangana districts has enthused Telugu Desam cadres who perceive it as an indication of the change in the mood of the people in favour of the party.
The response to Naidu's tour of Khammam and Nalgonda districts was not hostile and was more than anticipated at some places.
Another interesting change was that there were only "Jai Chandrababu and Jai TDP" slogans and no one heard about "Jai Telangana" during the padayatra. Interestingly, unlike in the past, no TRS activist obstructed Naidu's tour.
In Khammam not much trouble was expected because the areas he was touring was dominated by settlers. What came as a surprise was total lack of hostility to his tour of Suryapet in Nalgonda district.
"That is an indication that people are vexed with repeated bandhs and they wanted a change," a senior party leader from Warangal district said. "After the success of his Nalgonda tour, party workers at Station Ghanpur are demanding that Naidu tour their areas too," another leader said, taking the success of Nadiu's tour a bit too far.
"Naidu has been fighting for the cause of farmers. There is another leader (read TRS chief KCR) to fight for Telangana. We want to support Naidu who came for us in this hour of trouble," a tribal man in Nalgonda district said.
"MLA Narasimhulu has been fighting for Telangana. Naidu never said `no' to him. It means that Naidu is not against Telangana," another person analysed without going into the logic of Naidu's two-eyed policy.
In the past, whenever Naidu toured Telangana, TRS activists used to obstruct his convoy and hurl eggs and stones on him. "There are no such scenes now. With the change in the public mood, the migration of TDP leaders, particularly MLAs, to the TRS might stop," another leader said hopefully.
TDP leaders analyse that the people are turning to the TDP because the Congress is temporising to delay a decision on Telangana and because of the break in the Sakala Janula Samme and, more importantly, people are suffering because of repeated bandhs. Another reason for the people to look to the TDP is the campaign that the TRS leaders had struck a deal with the Congress to grab the Polavaram tender, he said.
quote
During Naidu's tours in the past, TRS activists obstructed his convoy and hurled eggs and stones. There are no such scenes now. _ A TDP leader
Thursday 10 November 2011
Music for cause of education
V V Balakrishna
Express News Service
Last Updated : 07 Nov 2011 12:18:46 PM IST
HYDERABAD: Opposition leader and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has decided to use music to further the cause of education.
Naidu, who is the managing trustee of the NTR Memorial Trust, will organise Swara Veda a musical concert with 11 top musicians in the country at the Gachibowli indoor stadium on November 11. The entry for the concert is through donor passes. "All the extra money we get through the musical concert will be spent on educational services," NTR Memorial Trust chief operating officer M Venkat told Express.
The trust is sponsoring 1,260 students for the 201112 academic year. Students from BPL families and orphans will be given free education and boarding. Most students were admitted into the NTR Memorial School in Gandipet and many others are being sponsored in various educational institutions across the state.
"We want to sponsor more students in 2012. So, Naidu wanted to conduct the musical concert. If there is extra money after meeting expenses for concert, we will use the same for sponsoring more children," Venkat said. In 201011, the trust sponsored 1,100 students.
This is the first time 11 musicians will take part in a single concert. "There has been a good response for donor passes," Venkat added. When the IT boom was on, Naidu was the first chief minister to promote IT in a big way in the state. "He thought now is the right time to promote charity as incomes of people in some sections have increased considerably," Venkat said.
Topics:
Chandrababu Naidu
Comments
What can be the cost and how to get the ticket passes for the entrance. Can we buy at the location?
By RajDeep
11/11/2011 11:26:00 AM
Its great to hear such programmes are being organised and encouraged. Hats off to the person who ever gave a thought to organise such event. We always consider Babu as our CM... Good luck for him. Looking to get 4 tickets for the same. Prasad Tekumalla. 9963650009
By prasadtekumalla
11/8/2011 4:54:00 PM
Post your comments
Express News Service
Last Updated : 07 Nov 2011 12:18:46 PM IST
HYDERABAD: Opposition leader and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has decided to use music to further the cause of education.
Naidu, who is the managing trustee of the NTR Memorial Trust, will organise Swara Veda a musical concert with 11 top musicians in the country at the Gachibowli indoor stadium on November 11. The entry for the concert is through donor passes. "All the extra money we get through the musical concert will be spent on educational services," NTR Memorial Trust chief operating officer M Venkat told Express.
The trust is sponsoring 1,260 students for the 201112 academic year. Students from BPL families and orphans will be given free education and boarding. Most students were admitted into the NTR Memorial School in Gandipet and many others are being sponsored in various educational institutions across the state.
"We want to sponsor more students in 2012. So, Naidu wanted to conduct the musical concert. If there is extra money after meeting expenses for concert, we will use the same for sponsoring more children," Venkat said. In 201011, the trust sponsored 1,100 students.
This is the first time 11 musicians will take part in a single concert. "There has been a good response for donor passes," Venkat added. When the IT boom was on, Naidu was the first chief minister to promote IT in a big way in the state. "He thought now is the right time to promote charity as incomes of people in some sections have increased considerably," Venkat said.
Topics:
Chandrababu Naidu
Comments
What can be the cost and how to get the ticket passes for the entrance. Can we buy at the location?
By RajDeep
11/11/2011 11:26:00 AM
Its great to hear such programmes are being organised and encouraged. Hats off to the person who ever gave a thought to organise such event. We always consider Babu as our CM... Good luck for him. Looking to get 4 tickets for the same. Prasad Tekumalla. 9963650009
By prasadtekumalla
11/8/2011 4:54:00 PM
Post your comments
Who Owns More Expensive House, Jagan or Naidu?
TDP wants editors to visit the houses of two leaders and judge for themselves
Hyderabad: Whose house is more expensive, Jagan's or Naidu's?
This question has been dominating a fresh political row raging between Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
A day after Naidu had alleged that Jagan had huge palaces at several places in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Sakshi newspaper owned by Jagan ran a story on Naidu's house. On Sunday it carried a story 'Abaddhala Babu Address Idi (this is the address of Naidu, who is a liar) with a photo of Naidu's house in Jubilee Hills.
Reacting to it, the TDP wanted editors of all media houses to conduct an independent inquiry into the houses of Jagan and Naidu to decide who owns the more expensive house.
At a media briefing on Saturday had Naidu alleged that Jagan owned huge palaces at Pulivendula, Kadapa, Idupulapaya, Lotus Pond (Hyderabad) and in Bangalore. "I have been in politics for 32 years but I have only a three-bedroom house. One is for my son Lokesh and another for me. The third is meant for guests," he claimed. But, during just five years of YS Rajasekhara Reddy's chief ministership, his family owned huge palaces, Naidu alleged.
Former minister of Karnataka Gali Janardhan Reddy too had a big house with golden chairs, golden beds and gold plates for meals, Naidu said, wondering how they earned such huge money in a short time.
In a counter-attack, Sakhsi carried the story on Naidu's house. Reacting to this, TDP Politburo member K Yerran Naidu wanted editors to visit the houses of Jagan and Naidu to judge the claims of the two leaders. "Jagan never allowed media into any of his houses including a big palace in Bangalore and one in Hyderabad," Yerran Naidu said.
He recalled that national political leaders visited Naidu's house several times and they had lunch in the dining room. "Even media too was allowed to take photos in the dining room of Naidu. Jagan's media is carrying fictitious stories on Naidu's house," Yerran Naidu said.
TDP's claim
* Jagan has five houses, one each at Idupulapaya, Pulivendula, Kadapa, Bangalore and Hyderabad
* The palace in Hyderabad costs Rs 200 cr and stands on 88,000 sq feet which is equivalent to 88 double bedroom flats
* Bangalore Green Belt house was constructed in 23 acres and is worth Rs 400 cr
YSRC's counter-claim
* Naidu's house is worth RS 8.8 cr
* It was built on 1,300 square yards
* It is a three-storeyed building and not a three-bedroom house
* There are several deviations from the approved plan
comments
Is there a real need for the media to conduct an independent into the houses of political leaders? Here in USA, our city has a public record of every house, its city-assessed value, and the property tax on it. The property tax on a $500,000 house is about $6,000 per year. I hope the Hyderabad corporation has assessed these houses. If the houses are 5 crore Rupees, then the corporation might collect Rupees 600,000 in annual taxes. How much are they really paying? Does the corporation collecting any taxes at all from these owners? 
By Som Karamchetty
11/8/2011 8:04:00 AM
11/8/2011 8:04:00 AM
Jagan remained uncrowned king of andhra during his fatheres regime, he cany settle for anuthing less than the crown itself. He is our state's yuvraaj while Rahul remains unchalenged yuv raaj of delhi kingdom. The old Maharaajas have been replaced by the current political dynasties. Looks like we cant get rid oof ragas ever... By dave
11/7/2011 8:26:00 PM
11/7/2011 8:26:00 PM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)