Chandrababu Naidu pulls up Congress for shielding Jagan Mohan Reddy

Hyderabad, May 23 (ANI): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday hit out at the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre for indirectly shielding YSR Congress Party leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Naidu demanded that the Congress Party give an account of the wealth amassed by Jagan Mohan Reddy.

"Now, I am asking the government has to tell one thing that these are all the case, these are all the facts, or otherwise, there is no truth, there is no case. He did not do any irregularities that they have to tell," said Naidu.

"Or, Jagan Mohan Reddy has to come out from 2004, how much money you have earned through illegal means, where you got it from, or otherwise, this the money I have got it, this is how I earned money, you have to tell case by case," he added.

Naidu further said that no action had been taken against Reddy despite all the evidences provided by the TDP.

"Since (over) two years back (ago), Jagan Mohan Reddy and his father were in Congress, they committed so many irregularities, so many corruption charges, and they earned huge money. Congress, from the beginning, we are raising all these issues, we have moved 'no confidence motion', we have printed a book called 'Rule of Corruption -Y S Rajasekhara Reddy', 'Mining Mafia, Threat to Democracy'. All these literature were distributed in Delhi," said Reddy.

"We have produced all the evidences but they (UPA Government and Congress Party) never took any actions," added Naidu.

Reddy, however, has refuted these charges, and alleged that the Centre has misused the CBI against him in the assets case.

He also slammed the Opposition after the CBI moved to freeze accounts of his companies. He alleged that the move was an attempt to politically stifle him ahead of the by-elections in the state. He also questioned the CBI's action against his companies.

Reddy quit the Congress last year after a 14-month long rebellion that began when his father, Y.S.R. Reddy's death in a helicopter crash.

Commenting on the upcoming presidential elections, Naidu said that his party has still not decided on the apt candidate for the coveted post.

"We are having a very small number (of lawmakers), but at the same time, major political parties are there and there are also so many other parties; we will discuss with them, which is the right choice for the President we will discuss," he said.

The dilemma over the nomination of president continues with political parties remaining divided over a suitable candidate's name.

There have been reports that the Congress is reaching out to allies to arrive at a consensus on Vice President Hamid Ansari or Pranab Mukherjee for the coveted post.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term ends on July 25 this year. (ANI)