Creating a flutter in Andhra Pradesh politics, Minister of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Nara Lokesh on Thursday alleged that there was a secret alliance between the BJP and the YSR Congress party.
The minister shared a video that showed YSRCP MLA Bugganna Rajendranath Reddy and BJP MLA Akula Satyanaryana walking one after the other into Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi. Nara Lokesh questioned if the meeting was relating to ‘Operation Garuda’, to relieve Jagan from all the cases or to sell the ‘self-respect’ of Telugus.
Sharing the video, he wrote, “What could be the reason behind YSRCP & AP BJP MLAs meeting their Delhi Bosses secretly today? 1) #OperationGaruda 2) Jagan Cases Maafi 3) To Sell Telugu Self Respect 4) All the Above” (sic)
What could be the reason behind YSRCP & AP BJP MLAs meeting their Delhi Bosses secretly today?
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) June 14, 2018
1) #OperationGaruda
2) Jagan Cases Maafi
3) To Sell Telugu Self Respect
4) All the Above pic.twitter.com/wzqvjjZc0X
Operation Garuda is a conspiracy theory first floated by actor Shivaji, who claimed that through this project, the BJP wants to enter south India.
However, the TDP had no explanation as to why and how they accessed CCTV footage from Andhra Bhavan.
TDP says stand vindicated
Launching an attack on YSRCP and BJP, TDP ministers K Atchannaidu and N Amarnath Reddy claimed that their stand has been vindicated. They alleged that both Bugganna and Satyanaryana had a meeting with BJP National president Amit Shah.
“What we have been telling all along has been proved true. We stand vindicated. The YSRCP is behaving like a BJP affiliate,” the ministers said, reported The New Indian Express.
BJP MLA says he was only meeting a friend
Reacting to the allegations made by TDP, Akula Satyanarayana held a press meet on Friday and clarified that they he and Bugganna Rajendranath Reddy had gone for lunch together.
“[Andhra Bhavan] This is a public guest house, all public representatives would be here, but making allegations for being friendly is condemnable," he said.
He further said that he had met BJP National president Amit Shah, but had not met any other national leaders.
Condemning the allegations made by TDP he said, “I strongly condemn the allegations. I am throwing a challenge to Atchannaidu, Nara Lokesh and Chandrababu Naidu to prove the allegations.”
The allegations of the YSRCP-BJP secret deal comes in the wake of the Centre denying a steel plant to Andhra Pradesh claiming there was no financial viability.
Speaking to TNM, Agriculture Minister, Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy wondered why YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy had not issued a statement of protest against the Centre’s injustice towards the state.
He asked, “Why isn’t he speaking in the interest of the state?”