YSRCP President YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday dared Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to prove that he had stashed wealth abroad.
Jagan was reacting to media reports that suggested fresh financial links in the CBI case against him, after his name surfaced in the leaked 'Paradise Papers', an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
"I am giving you (Naidu) 15 days' time. If you can prove that I have deposited even one paisa in foreign countries, I will quit politics. If not, will you step down as the chief minister? Whenever I take up a major programme, like this padyatra, Chandrababu (Naidu) and his cohorts start a malicious campaign against me. This has become a habit for them to divert people's attention from reality," PTI quoted him as saying.
"In the last eight years, I was never cowed down by those in power. I always indulged in clean and honest politics and will never bring disrepute to my (late) father (former Andhra CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy)," Jagan added.
This also came a day after Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy lashed out at Jagan and demanded an explanation from him, on his name reportedly surfacing in the disclosures made in the Paradise Papers.
“It is not just the CBI and the ED that are after Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy. According to media reports, his name also figures in the list of people linked to offshore accounts,” the minister was quoted as saying.
He also said that the Leader of Opposition owed an explanation to the people of the state.
Meanwhile, Jagan will continue the fourth day of his padayatra on Thursday.
He will cover 3,000 km across all 13 districts of the state to interact with people and know their problems.
Jagan will also address 180 public meetings, covering 125 Assembly constituencies.
On Wednesday, he began his day at Nelathimayapalle village with the hoisting of the party flag, before walking to Sangaalapalli, Gangireddypalli, Aiyavaripalli and Urutu.