Stating that there was an urgency to supply water to Rayalaseema, YSR Congress demanded the TDP government to put the Pattiseema on hold and complete the Polavaramp project on war-footing. The party asked the TDP to stop deceiving people and dubbed the Pattiseema project as fraud and the interlinking of rivers was fake.
‘Inter-linking of rivers through Pattiseema is a waste of public money and it does not serve the intended purpose with faulty workmanship and we demand the government to expedite Polavaram which will benefit the people of Rayalaseema and Krishna delta,’ party spokesperson Perni Nani said here on Monday.
Though the project was declared open, the pattiseema is not linking the rivers as the work on aqueducts seems to be semi-finished.
‘It is only a showmanship but in reality there is hardly any benefit from the Pattiseema project while the benefits of Polavaram are permanent in nature which is why YSR has put in major efforts to bring the project to a take off stage,” Nani said.
‘We demand that Pattiseema should be put on hold and Polvaram should be taken up with all earnestness,’ he added.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu today participated in the ceremony of linking of rivers Godavari-Krishna facilitated by the Pattiseema lift irrigation project. Welcoming the joining of Godavari waters with Krishna waters, chief minister Naidu unveiled a pylon at Ferry, a village in Ibrahimpatnam mandal, Krishna district.To make the linking of two important rivers of Andhra Pradesh memorable Andhra Pradesh government organized the program as a religious event. Priests performed pujas as per the Hindu tradition chanting the Vedic hymns.
The flow of Godavari water towards Krishna basin began with CM switching on the motors meant for pumping of the water into Polavaram right branch canal which empty the water into Krishna barrage. Describing the event as the first step in making state drought proof, chief minister said it was a sacred moment for everyone as they had witnessed great rivers of the state Krishna and Godavari join.
He smeared clay, brought from the point of where Godavari and Krishna water joined, on his forehead. Naidu told the people assembled to there to witness the event that they were witness at a historic and sacred event.Naidu said the interlinking of rivers was the brain-child of Atal Bihari Vajpayee the project could not make progress during UPA regime. “Today, we have taken it up as a challenge and made it happen in a record time, in spite of roadblocks created by detractors,” he said
Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project was conceived because of the delay involved in in taking up Polavaram project, he said.” We don’t want Rayalaseem suffer during the execution of the Polavarm project which is likely to take four year for the completion,” Naidu said. The Pattiseema is designed to draw 120 tmc water from Godavari and release it into Krishna barrage. The point is being taken up at a cost of Rs 1300 crore and expected to functional fully by March 2016.
Drama in run up to the event
But, to make the event go as per the expectation of political bosses, scores of engineers from electricity and irrigation department along with hundreds of workers had been deployed put the pumps in place. Originally, the switching-on of the motors was to take place at nine in the morning. But, incessant rains put paid to the plans. Till afternoon the welding works could not be completed. Finally, two pumps with a pumping capacity of 354 cusecs were installed and electricity supply posed a problem for some time further delaying the release of water.
Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy today shifted his focus on Bandar farmers, who are facing the threat of losing lands for the development of deep water port and industrial corridor near Machilipatnam. YSRC supremo Jaganmohan Reddy has become a tireless fighter these days. The other day he sided with the river front villages of Amaravati development region, who were opposing acquisition of their lands for proposed capital city. yesterday, he was seen preparing the students and youth for a fight for special status. In between he visits houses of farmers who committed suicides and consoles the families of those who were killed in accidents. Today he is with farmers of Machilipatnam asking them to continue their fight against the what he called forcible land acquisition. Jagan is seen everywhere- an usual activity for any opposition leader.
“We will go to courts for justice, We will stage dharnas, if necessary we will organize district bandh,” Jagan told the farmers ” Acquiring the land against your will is illegal. There are rules to acquire lands. The lands that give two crops are not supposed to be taken away from the farmers. If you are not willing, no force can take your lands,” Jagan told the cheering crowds.
Jagan assured them that he would stand by them and fight for their right to not to give the lands for the government for any purpose.
Chief minister Chadrababu Naidu’s public announcement that the government would identify about 17,000 acres in East and West Godavari districts to make room for industries has created furor among the environmentalists and public spirited activists. While talking to the people in Dwaraka Tirumala, Naidu revealed his plan to industrialize the two agriculture-rich and rice growing districts.He said the two district did not get industrialized because of non-availability of land. To overcome this, Naidu announced, the state government, would soon denotify the forest land to an extent of 17,000 acres.
It created loud protest from the environmentalists and activists.
Professor Chigurupati Ramachandraia of centre for economic and social sciences (CESS), Hyderabad, took strong objection to the proposal to denotify the forest land to make room for industries.
According to Ramachandraiah, a popular voice against the anti-people projects in the state for over 15 years, if the forest land is denotified and industries are set up, wonderful ecological balance, naturally evolved through ages, will get disturbed with serious consequences for the people of two districts. He demanded the state not to resort to the massacre of sensitive coastal environment.
The reasons Prof. Ramachandraiah cites to oppose the denotification of forest to facilitate industries are:
1. The area is thickly populated geography and is coastal ecology.
2. The two districts are known for their high degree of agriculture and allied activities especially fisheries.
3. Outside Agency area, the two districts have very litter forest area.
4. There is a fine balance between the density of population , high density agriculture and coastal activities. As the people are heavily dependent on the agriculture, any attempt to locate industries in the agro-fisheries zone would disturb the balance naturally evolved for ages.
5. Location of industries is not a standard solution for all districts. Industries should go to the area which suits them and agriculture should be allowed in the agro-ecological region. Any bungling in this division will lead to a disaster.
Dr S Jeevananda Reddy, former chief technical advisor, World Meteorological Organization (WMO/UN).
Reddy also expressed similar sentiment and opposed the proposal to denotify the forest lands in the name of establishing Industries in West and East Godavari district. ” There should be clarity on establishing industries. Industries are two types: location specific and non-location specific. If the government follows this principle in locating the industries half of the problems are solved,” he said . He said nobody would oppose if the government set up location specific industries in Agro-rich zones. ” In the name of industrializing the zone, without applying mind whether they are needed or not, if government set up industries in rice growing districts it will lead to serious contamination,” he said. Reddy further added that, “primary motive of industry is benefit to the individual, who sets up the industry, and for such industries, government should not resort to denotification of forests.
Dr EAS Sarma, former secretary, Government of India.
Dr Sarma strongly opposed the move. According to Sarma, chief minister Naidu is resorting to denotification of forest land to set up industrial units as he feared resentment among farmers.
He urged the union government to reject the proposal to denotify the land from AP government outright. “The government decided to de-notify 16,000 acres of forest land to accommodate several industrial units in West Godavari district on the ostensible ground that farmers are resisting acquisition of agricultural lands and, therefore, the industry should be handed over the required extent of forest land. This runs counter to the State’s obligation under Article 48A of the Constitution, the National Environment Policy approved by the Union Cabinet , the forest conservation laws enacted by the legislature and the norms of forest conservation and the Doctrine of Public Trust stipulated by Hon’ble Supreme Court from time to time.” Sarma said.
Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday turned tables on YSRCP Congress by asking the party to state whether it would support the Pattiseema project or not. So far, YSRCP has been posing the irksome question to chief minister Naidu to tell the people whether he was supporting the special status of not.
Today, state assembly took up Pattiseema Project issue for the debate. As the opposition leader Jagan was away in Pulivendula to participate in death anniversary of YS Rasekhar Reddy, deputy leader J Nehru spoke on the subject. Elaborating on the benefits of Pattiseema project, being taken up on Godavari, Naidu said the project was meant to divert Krishna water to Rayalaseema, which is a drought prone area.
“We want transfer 80 TMC Godavari water to Krishna barrage. The water thus saved in Krishna will be transferred to Rayalaseema. Now tell if you are opposed to taking water to Rayalaseema which was the objective of Pattiseema, or not,” Naidu asked and wanted straight answer.
YSR Congress leader Jyothula Nehru found difficult to answer in clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ . He said his party was not opposed to linking of the rivers, but they were opposed to the way the project was being implemented. “We are opposed to the motive behind the construction of Pattiseema when Polavaram was to be taken up with more benefits. Pattiseema is not a irrigation project, but a money spinning project,” he said.
BJP floor leader, Vishnukumar Raju, who normally used to take critical stand against TDP on many issues, this time, became cheerleader of chief minister Naidu. He said as a civil engineer he knew more about Pattiseema than Nehru. ” It is amazing that the state government is able to finish the project in just eight months and one should appreciate the efforts of chief minister Naidu. Going an extra mile, he suggested to the house that the project should be named as “Chandranna Pattiseema scheme” to the cheers from the treasury benches.
Then Nehru described the BJP as the tail of TDP, which was objected to by Raju stating, BJP could cut tails of YSRCP if it wants. Chief minister also defended BJP stating that it was a national party and there was nothing wrong in Raju’s appreciation of TDP’s work.
ACB court, which is trying the infamous cash-for-vote scam, has made it clear that it can’t reveal the contents in the report that was submitted by FSL in connection with this case. The court has further said that the report, which was submitted in sealed cover, can’t be made public. The court told this to ACB (Anti Corruption Bureau), which is probing the scam. However, ACB officials can move a memo in the court to get the duplicate copy of the preliminary report of FSL, said the court. It further stated that it will decide whether or not to give the duplicate copy only after a careful examination of memo.
It may be recalled that ACB earlier directed FSL in Hyderabad to look into the audio tapes that are alleged to be of TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu. The tape contained alleged conversation between Babu and nominated MLA to Telangana assembly, Elvis Stephenson. While FSL is yet to submit its final report in the case, it however gave a preliminary report. The content of this report is not yet known. Nonetheless, it has been rival on the Internet that FSL reportedly ascertained that the voice in the audio tape was not fabricated.
It is known that cash for vote scam came to light recently when ACB conducted a sting operation and apprehended TDP MLA Revant Reddy from Telangana state for allegedly promising Stephenson a sum of five crore rupees, in case he votes for TDP candidate in MLC elections. The episode evoked public cry and Election Commission swung into action seeking a copy of FSL report from the ACB court.
Once in power you would become the owner of chest of tax-payers money. You can satisfy your whims and fancies with tax-payers money either in the name of security or public purpose. Now, chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are going to acquire bullet-proof and fire-proof luxury buses for their tours across their states. It is in stark contrast to the photograph doing rounds in social media of Britain Prime Minister Cameron who travelled standing in London Metro as he could not get a seat to sit. The buses of our Telugu chief minsters are designed to suit their administrative and personal choice at the cost of Rs 5 crore each. Chandigarh’s JCBL is building these buses with all amenities. Chief Ministers can carry their CMO’s in the bus. They can even hold meetings with a dozen of secretaries in the new bus. Apart from bullet-proofing and fire-proofing, bath room, satellite connective etc. have also been fitted. T-CM is planning to travel along the Haritha Haram in the bus. The arrival of AP CM’s bus will take some more time. Both, Indian politicians, especially South India, are known for their pomp when in power. The splendid display of authority at the public cost is now reaching a level vulgarity.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) which is looking into the authenticity of the alleged telephone tapes of TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, has submitted its preliminary report to ACB court in Hyderabad.
The FSL reportedly mentioned that there the audio was not a fabricated one. In order to ascertain that the voice in the audio is that of Chandrababu Naidu, FSL needs to record the voice of Babu. So, FSL is likely to seek court to give permission for recording Babu’s voice.
Meanwhile, Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) which is probing cash-for-vote scam, has requested the court to give a copy of FSL findings. it may be recalled that vernacular media in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana recently aired the conversation between Chandrababu Naidu and nominated MLA to Telangana assembly, Stephenson. AP CID police even served notices to T News over the same episode.
On the other hand, High Court of Judicature of Hyderabad has deferred the hearing of the bail plea of TDP MLA Revant Reddy (accused number one), in cash for vote scam, to Friday. Notably, ACB filed a counter petition today praying court that bail shouldn’t be granted to Revant Reddy.
APCC president N Raghuvira Reddy today urged governor to recommend the cash-for-vote and telephone tapping cases for a high-level inquiry by an organization like CBI or a sitting Judge.
As chief ministers of two states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were involved in the cases, they merit a central probe, he said in a letter written to ESL Narasimhan, who is the joint governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
He said both, AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar, were personally involved in the cases.
An impartial inquiry would be possible only when the governor assumes special powers under Section 8 of the State Reorganization Act-2014, he said in the letter.
T News, a news channel owned by family members of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, says ACB is gearing up to slap notices on Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and a couple of Rajya Sabha members in cash-for-vote case. According to the news channel, which has access to key information in government and ACB, notices would be issued once the investigating agency receives the report about the veracity of audio tapes which contained purported telephonic conversation between Chandrababu Naidu and nominated MLA from Telangana Elvis Stephenson, from Forensic Sciences Laboratory. The contents of the report will be crucial as it would form the basis for Revanth Reddy’s bail and arrest of some more people. The report is expected today or tomorrow, T New said.
A large number of journalists from Telangana state met Governor ESL Narasimhan today and expressed their displeasure over Andhra Pradesh Government’s high-handedness.Finding fault with the government over serving notices to T News channel,journalists requested the Governor to direct the state for immediate withdrawal of notices.
After meeting, journalists spoke to the media. Namaste Telangana editor Allam Narayana lashed out at TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu and condemned the hyper action of AP police.Indian Journalists Union’s secretary general Devulapalli Amar has said that IJU will not remain a mute spectator to such barbaric practices. He said that attack on press freedom was objectionable and in case Chandrababu Naidu continues to go ahead with the same approach, he will witness movement of journalists both in Andhra and Telangana states. It may be recalled that Andhra Pradesh CID served notices to T-News as the channel allegedly telecast the alleged tapes of Chandrababu Naidu.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]elangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao met Governor ESL Narasimhan last night and elucidated the rumours that were rife on Section-8. The meeting, which went on up to an hour, was predominantly focussed on matters pertaining to Section-8 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Also, KCR stressed that Section-8 and the ongoing infamous cash-for-vote were two different issues. Chandrababu was allegedly trying to link up these two things, he reportedly brought to the notice of Narasimhan.
It has to be mentioned here that attorney general’s alleged comments on Section-8 were doing rounds on social media after it was telecast on television channels. In the apparent comments, attorney general has said that Governor can look into cash for vote scam. He further mentioned that Narasimhan can direct police of two states to operate in Hyderabad. He has even said that ACB has all the evidences in cash-for-vote scam and that it would go ahead with probe. Condemning the statements made by some AP leaders, KCR has said that no untoward incidents took place in Hyderabad and all those who reside in Hyderabad are Hyderabadis.
The legal experts are of the opinion that attorney general might have not made those statements as they say, there’s no mention of Andhra Pradesh in Section-8. Further, the sub-section(2) of the section states that the Governor needs to consult the council of ministers of Telangana state and can take an independent decision, they added.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]aking a break from political controversies Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will hold a meeting of 11-member Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) tomorrow in Bangalore.
The sub-group has chief ministers Haryana, Karnataka, Delhi, Bihar, Maharshtra, Mizoram, Sikkim, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In the previsous meeting held in April only two CMs from Haryana and Karnataka attended. The Group is set up by PM Modi to recommend the step to be taken to bring about institutional and behavioural changes to implement Swachh Bharat mission across the country.
The CM’a group, however, is expected to submit its report by end of June. Tomorrow’s meeting will review the current situation of solid and liquid waste management technologies, discuss on their visits to Waste to Energy plants and waste treatment facilities and also on the technology providers/ technologies recommended to address the waste challenge.
In what could be a politically inflammable action, Centre is said to have asked governor ESL Narasimhan to monitor the probe being done by Telangana ACB into the cash-for-vote scam.
ESL Narasimhan is the joint governor Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At a time when Andhra Pradesh is insisting on investing of special powers enshrined in the Section 8 of Andhra Pradesh reorganization Act-2014 with governor and Telangana resisting it tooth and nail, any such directive from the Centre to the governor would make the political situation explosive in the two states.
The sensational news is carried by English news channel NDTV this afternoon.
[pullquote position=”left”]Raj Bhavan sources neither denied nor confirmed the reports and governments of AP and Telangana chose not to react officially[/pullquote]
According to NDTV, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi has advised governor Narasimhan to intervene in the dispute that arose between AP and TS out of a sting-operation into the cash-for-vote scam. The sting led to the arrest of TDP MLA Revanth Reddy. Entrusting the responsibility of monitoring the case to governor means implementing the section 8 of Act. NDTV says governor Narasimhan had sought legal advice from the attorney-general and the latter advised the former to take control of the probe. It was a oral advice.
“The Governor has special powers under the Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, since the two states share the capital, Hyderabad, and two different police forces have jurisdiction in the city,” Rohatgi advised the Governor, according to NDTV.
Talking to Telugu360.com from New Delhi, TRS MP B Vinod Kumar expressed doubts about such instructions having come to governor from New Delhi.
“Its true governor can be instructed by the centre. Similarly, attorney-general can legally guide the centre and governor. But, as far as my knowledge goes, there have been no such orders from the centre,” Vinod said. But he did not deny the report flatly.
Raj Bhavan sources neither denied nor confirmed the reports and governments of AP and Telangana chose not to react officially.
However, notwithstanding the reports of a patch up , AP and Telangana governments continued their efforts to gather solid evidence to prove their allegations against each other in the cash-for-vote scam and phone tapping issue.
AP CID police have reportedly summoned Telecom service providers to inquire into the phone tapping issue at Bhavanipuram Police Station in Vijayawada far away from insecure Hyderabad.
AP police had reportedly instructed them not to erase call data of some important phone numbers that were allegedly tapped in the past six months.
On other side, AP DGP JV Ramudu held a meeting with the members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the phone-tapping issue in Hyderabad.
[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]SRCP leader Jyothula Nehru has lashed out at Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Expressing his anguish over the alleged involvement of Andhra Pradesh police in protecting fourth accused (A-4) Muthiah in cash-for-vote scam, Nehru said that it was unfortunate to send DGP to governor over protection of Muthiah. Addressing the media at YSRCP office in Hyderabad, Nehru questioned as to why AP Government is involving in cash-for-vote scam, as the issue is between TDP and Telangana Government.
He has further said that people came to know about the facts in cash-for-vote scam and thus stopped believing in Chandrababu Naidu’s statements. Expressing his concern about farming, Nehru slammed Babu and said that the chief minister was exerting extra burden on farmers by doubling the water cess. It has to be mentioned here that YSRCP has been vehemently criticising Babu ever since this scam broke out. In fact, its supremo YS Jaganmohan Reddy (although on pilgrimage now) shifted his base to Delhi and met several key leaders to explain the alleged involvement of Chandrababu Naidu in cash-for-vote scam.
Telangana state’s director general of police (DGP) Anurag Sharma has said that the investigation into the infamous cash-for-vote scam was going as per the law. Speaking to the media at Warangal, Anurag Sharma has mentioned that the forensic report-to ascertain the voice in audio tapes that were recently telecast on media-will reach the ACB in next two days. He has even mentioned that ACB will take care of the investigation.
It may be recalled that the Telangana police came under heavy criticism from TDP folks after Revant Reddy was arrested red-handedly by ACB. There were even allegations that the investigation was not being done as per the protocol. DGP today clarified on the same.
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]early a month after Telugu chief ministers—Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao- apparently started off war of words over the infamous cash-for-vote scam, the union minister Venkaiah Naidu (who is often regarded as the statesman) has spoken on the issue.
Stressing on the need for peace, Venkaiah Naidu has said that the duo must now put all the controversies to rest. He said that they must stop shooting dialogues at each other. Instead, he said, KCR and Babu must leave all the controversies to the law of the land.
It may be recalled that Chandrababu Naidu came under heavy criticism after the arrest of his MLA from Telangana state, Revant Reddy. Babu, who held a public meet in Vijayawada shortly, took pot shots at KCR and said that even he had ACB.
Coming down heavily on these statements, KCR said that even Lord Brahma wouldn’t save Chandrababu Naidu. According to experts, both the chief ministers must have refrained from personal statements when law was taking its own course of action. Today, Venkaiah Naidu too came out with similar opinion.
Let us truly hope that Telugu chief ministers will now at least put these controversies at rest and work together for the development of two states.
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat is common among Andhra Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje? They are all suffering from the same illness “business-stroke”. They are surrounded by businessmen, not by politicians.
Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara’s careers might be finished if further revelations were to come out from businessman Lalit Modi. Their weakness for his money and associated hospitality is taking its toll on them.Back in Hyderabad, Chandra Babu Naidu is neck-deep in cash-for-vote controversy, which is the making of businessmen-friends around him, who are generally bad political advisers.
[pullquote position=”left”] “They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical we are trustful… They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensation and refuses of life for ourselves.”[/pullquote]
There is nothing wrong in being surrounded by businessmen. But Babu should not listen to their advice and make them his closest aides. The problem with businessmen is that they do not understand politics. They simply feel that everything has a price. But when you are dealing with people, price cannot be fixed in terms of money alone.
The allegations against Chandra Babu Naidu about vote-buying would never have happened had he kept recently rich businessmen at a little distance. Sure, give them tickets to Parliament or the Assembly. But keep them at a comfortable distance.
Sushma Swaraj, Chandra Babu and Vasundhara Raje have definitely not read one of the stories by greatest English novelists F. Scott Fitzgerald “ the Rich Boy”. In the short story Fitzgerald famously wrote about the rich-
“They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical we are trustful… They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensation and refuses of life for ourselves.”
Lalit Modi is wealthy and he spends money. Naturally, Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje were dazzled by the money he spent. They enjoyed every bit of it. Lalit Modi did not spend money on them because he was a charitable person. He had his own objectives.
Similarly, Chandra Babu Naidu is surrounded by the rich unlike Andhra politicians earlier. They love the feel of wealth and when near wealth, they felt terrific. Remember that most politicians come from very humble backgrounds and when they see ‘Lakshmi’, they get transported to another world.
How did the businessmen earn their wealth? The question does not arise when you are in their company. The simple justification is that he is rich and so must be intelligent. Since he is so generous, he is a nice person. Politicians in India lose office or go to jail because of businessman’s money or commission. Take any scandal that rocked this nation in the past ten or fifteen years, you would know about nexus between the politician and businessman.
By having taken money or favors, the politicians cannot reject the rich donor….or he will be exposed. That is what is happening to Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje.
They enjoyed the charity of Lalit Modi in one form or the other and now facing the consequences..
Chandra Babu Naidu has forgotten some basic principles of politics. Elected representatives should serve as a bridge between people and government. But business tycoons, once elected, feel they need not associate with the public because they spent much money and won office. They realize that they will have to spend money again to re-elect and why waste time when the voters have to be bought again?
Amongst Andhra and Telengana MPs, there are at least 20 MPs from all parties who got tickets only because of their money. There is a political gap between these MP and the people since they are not connected to people. This political gap eventually leads to scandals and disgrace ultimately. What is the cash-for-vote scam in Telangana? It is the foolishness of a rich businessman who thought he could buy MLAs with his money and become MLC that forced Naidu to find himself in a pitiable condition. No wise-politician would have resorted to buying votes just to become an MLC.
Savithri Jindal was one of the richest people and was a minister in Haryana. In her constituency, at least 35,000 people worked for her. Yet Jindal lost and came third in the election. People eventually get fed up and defeat the rich and their money.
Chandra Babu should realize that most scandals start with business people turned politicians. Love them but keep them far off. That way you get their money but they will not destroy you.
(The author is an alumnus of Chicago University. He is a noted economist and political commentator who resides in Delhi).
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he cash-for-vote scam seems to be a never ending topic especially on television channels. Barely a day after Andhra Pradesh police served notices on T News for allegedly telecasting AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s alleged conversation with nominated MLA to Telangana assembly, Elvis Stephenson, a vernacular news channel claimed that it got the statement of Stephenson, which was recorded before a magistrate at Nampally Court in Hyderabad.
[pullquote position=”left”] In his statement to the court, Stephenson reportedly said that Chandrababu Naidu was the kingpin of the entire cash-for-vote scam.[/pullquote]
In his statement to the court, Stephenson reportedly said that Chandrababu Naidu was the kingpin of the entire cash-for-vote scam. He said that Mathaiah (one of the accused in the scam) visited Stephenson’s residence on May 28 and offered him a sum of two crore rupees besides an air travel ticket in case he accepts to refrain from MLC elections under MLA quota .
On May 29, Stephenson said that he wanted to deal with the key person in this episode after which he was told it was TDP MLA Revanth Reddy who handled it. It was then Stephenson approached the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and DGP of Telangana state and gave a written complaint over the same.
On May 30, another two accused in the scam—Sebastian and Antony visited Stephenson’s residence while the former told Stephenson that he was sent by Chandrababu Naidu. Later in the noon 12, Revanth Reddy visited Stephenson’s residence. Stephenson informed the same to ACB, who installed cameras at nominated MLA’s residence.[dropcap][/dropcap]
On May 31, Sebastian telephoned Stephenson and said he wanted to visit him along with Revanth Reddy, however, at a different location. Accordingly, Stephenson arranged for the meeting at his friend’s (Malcolm Taylor) place and also informed the same to ACB who installed cameras-this time- at Taylor’s residence. Later, in the evening Revanth Reddy and Sebastian visited Taylor’s residence with a bag that contained 50 lakh rupees. It is known that the sting operation was later released to the media by unknown sources.
Notably, Stephenson even told the magistrate the person who connected him to Chandrababu Naidu was Harry Sebastian.
The experts said that this statement of Stephenson will apparently considered as a key evidence. Let us wait and watch when and how curtains will be drawn on this infamous cash-for-vote scam.
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith Andhra Pradesh police serving notices on a vernacular news channel, T News, journalists across Telangana state staged protests and held demonstrations against the act alleging that it was an attempt to curb the freedom of press.
Notably, the Andhra Pradesh police-in its notice- stated that the news channel, T News, disturbed the public tranquility by telecasting Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s alleged telephonic conversation with Telangana’s nominated MLA, Elvis Stephenson. It may be noted that the police served notices based on complaint of an advocate from Vizag.The notice went on to mention that the programme that was aired on June 7 night affected the maintenance of public order, which violated Section-5 of Cable TV News Network Act. It may be recalled that T News had telecast the audio conversation between Babu and Stephenson shortly after the arrest of TDP MLA from Telangana region, Revanth Reddy.
[pullquote position=”left”] Indian Journalists Union’s (IJU) secretary general, Devulapalli Amar condemned the incident and said that none in the world has the authority to question the media of its sources. [/pullquote]
Is Cable TV News Network Act Applicable to TV Channel?
The matter that is being widely debated amongst journalists’ circle today is—whether Cable TV News Network Act can be slapped against a television channel, as the legal experts are of the opinion that this act shall be invoke only against cable television operation and that T News was a cable television operator but a news channel.
What are the possible sections that can be invoked?
The legal experts said that it would have been better and significant in case the following sections were invoked—IPC Sec499 (defamation), IPC Sec502 and IPC Sec120B (criminal conspiracy). They were apparently puzzled as to why these chose Cable TV Network Act. Was it an attempt that would presumably make KCR to strike a compromise deal with Babu, they questioned among themselves.
Attack on the media?
The journalists in Telangana region reacted vehemently to the notices that were served by the police against T News. A large number of scribes gathered outside the DGP office of AP Police in Hyderabad. The sources said that nearly 100 journalists were already taken into the custody. Meanwhile, the Indian Journalists’ Union (IJU) secretary general, Devulapalli Amar condemned the incident and said that none in the world has the authority to question the media of its sources. Serving notices to media is an attempt to curb press freedom, he added.
BJP Jumps into Defence:
Telangana BJP president and MLA, Kishan Reddy has responded to the notices served on T news. He has said that BJP was not against the freedom of press. He, however, criticised KCR and Chandrababu Naidu for indulging in political war.
It now looks like Chandrababu Naidu purportedly crossed swords with freedom of the press. How these cases can curtain press freedom is still a debatable issue.
(The author is an alumnus of Chicago University. He is a noted economist and political commentator who resides in Delhi).
