Rajagopal was questioned in Jagan case
The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned Rajagopal, former MD of Mines Department and questioned him about the disproportionate assets of YSRCP president and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
It may be mentioned here that Rajagopal was arrested in connection with the OMC scam and released on bail. The CBI authorities questioned him for three hours in connection with the case against Jagan. It is learnt that CBI authorities questioned him about allocation of lime stone mines to cement factories when he was the MD. Some of these companies invested money in Jagan’s companies.
Penna and Dalmia Cements were allotted lime stone mines during late Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s regime. While the Penna Cements was allotted lime stone mines in 822 acres in Tandur of Ranga Reddy and two other districts, Dalmia Company was allotted 407 hectares of mines in Mylavaram of Kadapa district. There are allegations that Penna Cements had invested Rs 68 crores and Dalmia invested Rs 95 crores in Jagan companies in lieu of these allocations.
It is learnt that CBI authorities questioned Rajagopal about these dealings. The CBI sleuths also suspect the complicity of the suspended IAS officer Sri Lakshmi in these scandalous deals.
Alternative for Cong is BJP
BJP senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya said that people were eagerly awaiting to end the corrupt rule of Congress and bring the BJP back to power. Dattatreya hoisted the party flag on the occasion of the foundation day at Hyderabad on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, he has reminded how the BJP government under Atal Behari Vajpayee gave a transparent, progressive and corruption-free rule in the past.
Stating that the Congress party buried itself deep in corruption, he said ministers going to jails was a clear evidence to the sad state of affairs. He said Andhra Pradesh topped corruption in the entire state as ministers were also facing CBI probe. He said India’s image was damaged in the comity of world nations, as all the Congress leaders including the Prime Minister were facing corruption charges. Stating that the central and state governments failed in all sectors, Dattatreya said the country would progress only when Congress was buried. Stating that BJP was the only alternative to the Congress, he said the party was picking even in the state. He has implored upon the party workers to visit every door and explain the corruption of the ruling party and there by strengthen BJP.
Charging the Kiran Kumar Reddy government of throwing the state into darkness, he said while all the Discoms of AP were in ‘B Minus’, 4 ‘Discoms’ in Gujarat were in ‘A Plus’. He has asserted that BJP would continue its movement against the hiked power charges and would intensify it further. He also called upon party workers and people to make the Bandh called by the party on April 9 a success. He also asked the party cadres to go to every house and collect signatures against the power tariff hike.
TDP re-own NTR with success of “BAADSHAH”
The reported plans of hero Nandamuri Bala Krishna to snub his brother Hari Krishna’s son Jr. NTR have gone haywire after ‘Baadshah’ was released on Friday.
TDP is now hastily trying re-own NTR and use his charisma once again for strengthening the party. It may be recalled that not very long ago Bala Krishna saw to it that no TDP leader was associated with NTR’s visit to Vijayawada.
Reports said that Bala Krishna was irritated at the high ambitions of Jr. NTR both in film industry and politics. It was said that Hari Krishna opposed TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh taking his place. He is believed to have told members of the family that the party leadership should come back to a member of the Nandamuri family after the retirement of Naidu. However, Naidu already brought his son into active politics and he has been actively participating in the party affairs. Bala Krishna supported this plan as Lokesh is his son-in-law. The dismayed Hari Krishna has been staying away from party activities. Excepting for being present on the day Naidu started his pada yatra on October 2, last year, he has not joined him anywhere else. Likewise, NTR also did not show any interest in the yatra of Naidu.
Later reports said that Jr. NTR started sending his followers into YSR Congress. This has angered Bala Krishna who tried to snub Jr. NTR. He got Junior’s follower Vallabhaneni Vamsi removed from the post of Vijayawada urban TDP wing and brought in Kesineni Nani into the party. This has upset the apple cart of NTR’s followers. Vamsi who has been expecting Gannavaram Assembly ticket was distressed that injustice was done to him despite being loyal to the party. When Bala Krishna instructed TDP functionaries not to associate with NTR’s visit, Vamsi abided by that instructions and had not gone anywhere near his mentor.
NTR also did not like taking the blow of Balayya lying back. He saw to it that his Vijayawada trip was a super success. Likewise he also organized a massive crowd of over 20,000 fans at the audio launch of ‘Baadshah’, illustrating his own strength.
After NTR was disowned by TDP, YSR Congress started extensively using his image. Several banners with his pictures appeared during the visit of Sharmila. NTR could successfully create confusion among TDP ranks that he was supporting the YSR Congress. YSR Congress also created further confusion by extensively using the pictures of even late N T Rama Rao, founder of the TDP. Though his photos are appearing in all the publicity hoardings of the YSR Congress, NTR chose to remain silent. He had not condemned the act.
This has really rattled the TDP leadership. Top leaders started condemning the YSR Congress, for using the pictures of both NTRs. Revanth Reddy told the YSR Congress not to entertain any idea that Jr. NTR would support it. He reminded them that NTR had already declared that he would remain in the TDP as long as he was alive. Devineni Uma said if the YSR Congress leaders had any shame, they should remove the pictures of NTRs. Retorting, Gudivada MLA and Nandamuri loyalist Kodali Nani who opted out of TDP and joined YSR Congress, said any one excepting TDP led by back-stabber CBN could use the pictures of late NTR.
Realizing that they would lose a charismatic person by distancing NTR, TDP leaders hastily erected hoardings hailing NTR all over Vijayawada on the occasion of the release of ‘Baadshah’. With the film getting a hit talk, efforts are on to cash-in on his glamour. NTR spurning his own manifestations successfully dismayed even Balayya, say sources.
Jr. NTR’s supporters heaved a sigh of relief after ‘Baadshah’ got hit talk. If the film had failed, NTR would have landed in deep trouble because of the dangerous game he had played. Now he could make the TDP come down on its knees.
