AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu discussed with party senior leaders on the latest situation after massive raids are started by special teams of Income Tax officials on offices of construction firms and industries in Krishna, Guntur and Visakhapatnam districts on Friday morning.
Naidu told the leaders it had become a habit for the BJP government at the Centre to order IT raids in all those States that are bound for elections with the objective to indirectly threaten political opponents there.
He referred to the recent raids in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and now in Andhra Pradesh. Though no reports of raids on Minister Narayana and other TDP leaders’ were confirmed till now today, Mr. Naidu said there was a need for all leaders to remain alert and keep a close watch. He said everyone would be prepared to face any consequences in the cause of defending AP’s interests.
Meanwhile, the IT officials who gathered in Vijayawada in large numbers were stated to have stopped implementing their plan A, that is to raid properties of political leaders at the last minute because of excessive media attention and possible backlash from TDP leaders. Now the special teams followed their plan B which is to raid premises of real estate firms and industries. After Amaravati is made state capital, unexpected levels of construction activity is taking place in Vijayawada, Mangalagiri and surrounding areas.
Today’s raids were focused on DS Logistics, Southern Developers & Constructions, Subhagruha Constructions and several precasting and brick industries near Jaggaiahpeta town.
