YSRCP President and Andhra Opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy lashed out at Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, claiming that several senior TDP leaders including Naidu were involved in the massive land scam that surfaced in Visakhapatnam.
Jagan was addressing a crowd as part of his 'Save Visakhapatnam' dharna, organised by opposition parties.
Stating that all accused would be put behind bars if his party was voted to power in 2019, he also hit out at Naidu for not going ahead with a CBI enquiry on the scam.
“I assure you that we will fight the government and not leave a single inch of land of the poor people with the land mafia. If we do not succeed in the fight, don't lose hope, for we will come to power in a year and bring back everything looted by TDP leaders," he was quoted as saying.
Speaking at the GVMC - Gandhi Statue Junction, he added, "The Chief Minister, his son, ministers and local legislators have misused their power and aided the land mafia on a quid pro quo basis. This dharna is a wake-up call for everybody — victims, mafia, citizens, and most of all the government. The undemocratic and selfish government must be taught a lesson."
This dharna came one day after YSRCP General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP V. Vijay Sai Reddy also demanded a CBI probe into the land scam.
The scam deals with allegations of encroachments over several acres of land and tampering of records, with more than 100 complaints from across Visakhapatnam district.
It is reported to involve more than 1,000 acres of land in Madhurawada and Kommadi areas of Visakhapatnam, and has kicked up a political storm in the state since it came to light.
On June 11, days after the scam came to light, the state had formed an SIT consisting of Police, Revenue and Law Department officials.
However, this has not satisfied the Opposition parties, who are demanding a CBI probe into the scam.
Speaking about the SIT, Naidu had earlier said, "I want to take action against the culprits at the earliest. If the scam is entrusted to the CBI it would take two decades for the completion of the investigation. You give me evidence today, I will take action tomorrow."