The main opposition Telugu Desam found itself in a fix on Thursday after the Telugu Yuvata state secretary, Mr P. Hari Babu’s father, Mr P. Ramakrishnaiah Naidu. and four friends were caught with unaccounted cash worth Rs 7 crore in their cars.
Adding to the party’s acute discomfiture, the Kadiri police who intercepted the two vehicles also found in them number plates (AP09AG393 and AP03AG0099) of cars that belonged to the convoy of the TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Congress leaders immediately alleged that the TD president had transported black money for local bodies’ elections, but Mr Hari Babu claimed that the cash belonged to his business friends Prakash and Basavaraju of Karnataka and was meant to purchase tipper lorries.
He also came up with the strange explanation that Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s number plates “probably” fell on the road and he had picked them up. “As a TD worker, I collected them and kept it in my vehicles,” he said. “If I use them, it is a crime. But, I didn’t.”
Soon after the seizure, the Income Tax department conducted flash raids at the posh houses of Mr Hari Babu in Nalanda Nagar and Vidyanagar of Tirupati and reportedly seized incriminating evidence.
Mr Ramakrishnaiah and four friends were travelling in two vehicles from Hospet to Tirupati when they were stopped by the Kadiri police on Wednesday evening for a routine vehicle check. The cops were stunned to see cash worth Rs 7 crore cash in 13 gunny bags and immediately arrested Mr Ramakrishnaiah, a company accountant, Mr Jangam Ramu, Mr Sompalli Venkataramana, Mr Bollepalli Venkatesh and Mr A. Ramesh.
On being questioned, the TD leader’s father told the police that the money had been withdrawn by Mr Hari Babu’s friends from the SBI Hospet branch in Karnataka and was being taken for routine business transactions to two iron ore agencies, Venkateshwara Logistics and Sairam Associates, floated by his son in Tirupati. But police registered a case under sections 41 (A) and 102 CrPC besides section 132 of the Income Tax act. The arrested were presented before senior civil judge in Kadiri and granted bail.
“We have the right to seize cash from any person who carries more than Rs 10 lakh,” said the district superintendent of police, Mr Maneeshkumar Sinha. The Telugu Yuvata leader, meanwhile, rubbished allegations that the cash belonged to Mr Chandrababu Naidu. “I had only arranged the transport for my friends when they required AP-registration vehicles,” he said. “My friends are into mining export business at Bellary and the cash was meant for purchase of tippers. We submitted proof to the SP of Anantapur.”
A senior TD leader clarified that Mr Hari Babu purchased a Safari vehicle for Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s convoy when he took out his ‘Mee Kosam Yatra’ at Chandragiri fort town last year. The same number is given to four or five vehicles in a convoy for security reasons.
“This way, Mr Naidu’s convoy number was put on the vehicle,” he said. “After the yatra, the vehicle was sent back to Tirupati. Though Mr Hari Babu replaced Mr Naidu’s number plate with his own, he kept the old number plate inside just to show how close he was to the party chief.”
Meanwhile, the minister for rural development, Mr Vatti Vasanth Kumar, demanded a CBCID prone into the cash seizure and the Youth Congress leader, Mr K. Nagendra Kumar, alleged that the cash was ‘black money’ of the TD chief.
But the TD said neither the party nor his president had any connection with the cash seizure. “Some vested interests are spreading canards,” said the party spokesman, Mr Varla Ramaiah.
Showing posts with label Chandrababu Naidu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chandrababu Naidu. Show all posts
Friday, June 18, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Politicians, mining and land mafia ruling roost in A.P.: Naidu
Accusing the ruling Congress of failing to maintain law and order, Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said “political mafia, mining mafia and land mafia” were ruling the roost in Andhra Pradesh.
“There is no security for people in the state because of the political mafia while the mining mafia has been plundering precious national wealth,” he told the valedictory session of the TDP’s three-day meet at Gandipet near here.
Naidu alleged that the police was being misused by the ruling party to serve its vested political interests.
He said the so-called safety and security committee in the state headed by Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Raohas has failed to do anything. “It should be disbanded forthwith,” he said.
The TDP chief strongly condemned the growing attacks on his party cadre by the ruling party. “We shall not tolerate these attacks and resist them by all means,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said no one could stop the TDP’s victory in any election in future. “But we want the Election Commission to do away with the Electronic Voting Machines and revert to the ballot paper system. EVMs can be used to rig the election and manipulate the result in favour of a particular party,” he said.
Earlier, film star and TDP founder-president N.T. Rama Rao’s son Nandamuri Balakrishna foresaw the possibility of mid-term elections in the state soon due to bickering within the ruling party.
“Be geared up for Assembly elections, not four years later but anytime soon,” said Mr. Balakrishna, who was one of the attractions at the ‘Mahanadu’ on the final day.
The TDP would return to power and Mr. Chandrababu would become Chief Minister whenever elections are held, he said.
Young star and Mr. Balakrishna’s nephew NTR Junior said he would work for the party “till the last drop of my blood.”
“My aim is to restore glory to the party and bring it back to power. I appeal to the party president to give due prominence to youth and women,” he said.
The three-day annual conference culminated with the unanimous re-election of Mr. Naidu as the TDP president for the 15th year in a row.
“There is no security for people in the state because of the political mafia while the mining mafia has been plundering precious national wealth,” he told the valedictory session of the TDP’s three-day meet at Gandipet near here.
Naidu alleged that the police was being misused by the ruling party to serve its vested political interests.
He said the so-called safety and security committee in the state headed by Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Raohas has failed to do anything. “It should be disbanded forthwith,” he said.
The TDP chief strongly condemned the growing attacks on his party cadre by the ruling party. “We shall not tolerate these attacks and resist them by all means,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said no one could stop the TDP’s victory in any election in future. “But we want the Election Commission to do away with the Electronic Voting Machines and revert to the ballot paper system. EVMs can be used to rig the election and manipulate the result in favour of a particular party,” he said.
Earlier, film star and TDP founder-president N.T. Rama Rao’s son Nandamuri Balakrishna foresaw the possibility of mid-term elections in the state soon due to bickering within the ruling party.
“Be geared up for Assembly elections, not four years later but anytime soon,” said Mr. Balakrishna, who was one of the attractions at the ‘Mahanadu’ on the final day.
The TDP would return to power and Mr. Chandrababu would become Chief Minister whenever elections are held, he said.
Young star and Mr. Balakrishna’s nephew NTR Junior said he would work for the party “till the last drop of my blood.”
“My aim is to restore glory to the party and bring it back to power. I appeal to the party president to give due prominence to youth and women,” he said.
The three-day annual conference culminated with the unanimous re-election of Mr. Naidu as the TDP president for the 15th year in a row.
Naidu re-elected TDP chief
Nara Chandrababu Naidu was re-elected president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) unanimously for the seventh time in a row on the concluding day of ‘Mahanadu' here on Saturday. The process of election that commenced on Friday was completed this afternoon, though it was a mere formality.
In his concluding speech, Mr. Naidu thanked the party delegates for re-electing him and giving him another opportunity to serve the party. He promised to spend equal time for the party and the people and pledged to protect every party worker, stating that it was because of the committed activists the party was so close to people.
There was a historic necessity to bring TDP back in power as “problems cloud the State every time Congress returned to power,” he said and pointed out that the present situation was an example.
The TDP chief claimed that manipulation of voting was possible in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and sought a nationwide debate on the issue as 14 political parties had already expressed reservations over the EVMs. He demanded that the State government hold party-based and direct elections to local bodies.
Speaking on the resolution relating to law and order in the State earlier, Mr. Naidu demanded scrapping of the Committee on Public Security headed by K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao as it had failed to take stock of the situation.
Alleging that Congress government was behind the murder of TDP activists during the last six years he said: “Had the previous TDP government thought on the same lines, no Congress man would have been alive.”
He blamed political mafia for the violent incidents at Mahabubabad in Warangal district on Friday and felt lack of freedom in functioning was incapacitating the police.
Coming down heavily on ‘Jalayagnam', the TDP chief said it was difficult to complete the projects taken up even in the next three decades.
He demanded that the government announce Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella as national projects.
In his concluding speech, Mr. Naidu thanked the party delegates for re-electing him and giving him another opportunity to serve the party. He promised to spend equal time for the party and the people and pledged to protect every party worker, stating that it was because of the committed activists the party was so close to people.
There was a historic necessity to bring TDP back in power as “problems cloud the State every time Congress returned to power,” he said and pointed out that the present situation was an example.
The TDP chief claimed that manipulation of voting was possible in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and sought a nationwide debate on the issue as 14 political parties had already expressed reservations over the EVMs. He demanded that the State government hold party-based and direct elections to local bodies.
Speaking on the resolution relating to law and order in the State earlier, Mr. Naidu demanded scrapping of the Committee on Public Security headed by K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao as it had failed to take stock of the situation.
Alleging that Congress government was behind the murder of TDP activists during the last six years he said: “Had the previous TDP government thought on the same lines, no Congress man would have been alive.”
He blamed political mafia for the violent incidents at Mahabubabad in Warangal district on Friday and felt lack of freedom in functioning was incapacitating the police.
Coming down heavily on ‘Jalayagnam', the TDP chief said it was difficult to complete the projects taken up even in the next three decades.
He demanded that the government announce Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella as national projects.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Mahanadu to chalk out action plan
The three-day Mahanadu, the annual delegates conference of the TDP, began here on Thursday with its president N. Chandrababu Naidu declaring that an action plan would be chalked out to launch a struggle against the anti-people policies of the Central and State governments.
Inaugurating the event, organised at the sprawling Telugu Vijayam at Gandipet after a gap 16 years, he said that any programme which was launched from this venue had ended in success. The details of the action plan would be finalised at the Mahanadu. With the party for the first time appointing area in-charges, they too were invited to the meet, swelling the number of participants by several thousands.
Party sources said Mr. Naidu was keen on utilising the event to enthuse the cadres to win back the confidence of all sections by taking up agitations on people's problems and regaining the glory of the organisation. It was a sea of yellow as all roads leading to the venue were decorated with buntings, festoons and hoardings carrying pictures of Mr. Naidu, his son Lokesh and other TDP leaders.
Accusing the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress regime in the State of deceiving people, he said both the dispensations were steeped in corruption, totally neglected farmers and failed to deliver welfare programmes for weaker sections.
Dubbing the CBI as ‘Congress Bureau of Investigation', the TDP president accused the UPA government of using the investigation agency to blackmail political rivals and surviving in power.
Rise in income
Although the income of the Centre increased steeply due to higher collections of income tax, netting of Rs.67,000 crore through auction of 3G spectrum, the government was planning to sell ‘navaratnas', unable to take up welfare schemes.
While the State progressed and income went up due to the development programmes initiated during TDP rule, it witnessed deceleration under the present government. The Congress promised many impractical schemes to garner votes and cited how the total cost of irrigation projects under Jalayagnam had escalated to a whopping Rs. 3 lakh crore.Monday, April 19, 2010
Corporator ‘carries' pistol into NTR Bhavan
A breach in the security set up at NTR Bhavan, headquarters of TDP, was detected by the security personnel of party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday.
According to party sources, TDP corporator from Vanasthalipuram J. Rajashekar Reddy carried his licensed pistol without being detected by the metal detectors at the entrance of the building.
The corporator was proceeding towards the chambers of Mr. Naidu as part of his appointment when the security personnel found the weapon during physical frisking.
Party sources stated that the corporator was carrying the weapon only to check the security system. The matter was informed to the police but no complaint was lodged.
According to party sources, TDP corporator from Vanasthalipuram J. Rajashekar Reddy carried his licensed pistol without being detected by the metal detectors at the entrance of the building.
The corporator was proceeding towards the chambers of Mr. Naidu as part of his appointment when the security personnel found the weapon during physical frisking.
Party sources stated that the corporator was carrying the weapon only to check the security system. The matter was informed to the police but no complaint was lodged.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Naidu fumes over TD, Congress bonhomie
The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, is unhappy with his partymen for hobnobbing with Congress leaders by attending parties hosted by them and even having joint business ventures.
Mr Naidu expressed his displeasure when some party leaders from Guntur and other districts complained that while they were fighting the Congress at the grassroots level and facing lathi blows, some TD leaders were attending parties thrown by Congress ministers and leaders.
“You need to take action against such leaders. It’s painful that while we are fighting against the Congress, some of our leaders are enjoying their hospitality. What is the message sent,” asked a party activist.
Sources said some TD leaders referred to the parties hosted by the panchayat raj minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, and others and a meeting addressed by the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, where senior party leader and MLC, Ms Nanapaneni Rajkumari, attended.
Mr Naidu reportedly disapproved such a behavior from party leaders and asked them not to act in a manner which could affect the image of Telugu Desam and weaken the party.
It is learnt that some party leaders also pointed to growing business joint ventures between the Congress and the Telugu Desam leaders in various districts. “It has come to my notice. This is not correct. How can the party take on the ruling party when our own partymen have business tie ups with them,” he asked.
As the complaints began pouring in, Mr Naidu said he would send a fact-finding team from Hyderabad to the district from where he had received complaints.
Mr Naidu expressed his displeasure when some party leaders from Guntur and other districts complained that while they were fighting the Congress at the grassroots level and facing lathi blows, some TD leaders were attending parties thrown by Congress ministers and leaders.
“You need to take action against such leaders. It’s painful that while we are fighting against the Congress, some of our leaders are enjoying their hospitality. What is the message sent,” asked a party activist.
Sources said some TD leaders referred to the parties hosted by the panchayat raj minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, and others and a meeting addressed by the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, where senior party leader and MLC, Ms Nanapaneni Rajkumari, attended.
Mr Naidu reportedly disapproved such a behavior from party leaders and asked them not to act in a manner which could affect the image of Telugu Desam and weaken the party.
It is learnt that some party leaders also pointed to growing business joint ventures between the Congress and the Telugu Desam leaders in various districts. “It has come to my notice. This is not correct. How can the party take on the ruling party when our own partymen have business tie ups with them,” he asked.
As the complaints began pouring in, Mr Naidu said he would send a fact-finding team from Hyderabad to the district from where he had received complaints.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Andhra Pradesh Speaker apologises for remarks against TDP
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday expressed regret over his remarks against principal opposition Telugu Desam Party in the House and announced he was withdrawing them.
“If any members were hurt by my remarks yesterday, I regret that and withdraw the remarks. The remarks were meant only to ensure order in the House and not to hurt any member,” the Speaker said in the House on Thursday.
“What nonsense,” the Speaker shouted at the TDP members before adjourning the House for the day on Wednesday and also remarked that the TDP had failed as an opposition party.
Mr. Reddy made the remarks after the TDP members disrupted the proceedings over the issue of water supply to a private steel plant promoted by Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in Kadapa district.
Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu took strong exception to the Speaker’s remarks and said the latter should “behave with dignity.” “Whether or not he (Speaker) should withdraw the remarks is left to his wisdom,” the TDP chief said after the House was adjourned.
The Speaker, when the House began on Thursday, withdrew his remarks and expressed regret. The House on Thursday transacted business smoothly, beginning with an elaborate Question Hour.
“If any members were hurt by my remarks yesterday, I regret that and withdraw the remarks. The remarks were meant only to ensure order in the House and not to hurt any member,” the Speaker said in the House on Thursday.
“What nonsense,” the Speaker shouted at the TDP members before adjourning the House for the day on Wednesday and also remarked that the TDP had failed as an opposition party.
Mr. Reddy made the remarks after the TDP members disrupted the proceedings over the issue of water supply to a private steel plant promoted by Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in Kadapa district.
Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu took strong exception to the Speaker’s remarks and said the latter should “behave with dignity.” “Whether or not he (Speaker) should withdraw the remarks is left to his wisdom,” the TDP chief said after the House was adjourned.
The Speaker, when the House began on Thursday, withdrew his remarks and expressed regret. The House on Thursday transacted business smoothly, beginning with an elaborate Question Hour.
Monday, February 22, 2010
No ‘match-fixing’ deal to suppress Telangana issue: Rosaiah
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah on Monday mocked at the allegation that he and Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu had entered into a ‘match-fixing’ deal to suppress the Telangana issue from being raised in the State Assembly.
Former Minister and senior Congress leader T. Jeevan Reddy, who has of late been vociferous in demanding a separate state, alleged that Mr. Rosaiah and Mr. Naidu had entered into a match-fixing deal to stifle the Telangana voice in the ongoing Budget session of State Assembly.
“Chandrababu is a young man, like my predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. I am unlike him. Any match is played between people of the same age group. I can neither play matches nor fix them,” said the Chief Minister.
Mr. Rosaiah, however, lamented that responsible leaders in the party were levelling such allegations on issues that ought to be discussed “within the four walls.” “Our party high command will take care of such people,” he said.
Mr. Rosaiah was in Vizianagaram on Monday as part of his two-day official trip to north coastal Andhra to initiate various development works.
Former Minister and senior Congress leader T. Jeevan Reddy, who has of late been vociferous in demanding a separate state, alleged that Mr. Rosaiah and Mr. Naidu had entered into a match-fixing deal to stifle the Telangana voice in the ongoing Budget session of State Assembly.
“Chandrababu is a young man, like my predecessor Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. I am unlike him. Any match is played between people of the same age group. I can neither play matches nor fix them,” said the Chief Minister.
Mr. Rosaiah, however, lamented that responsible leaders in the party were levelling such allegations on issues that ought to be discussed “within the four walls.” “Our party high command will take care of such people,” he said.
Mr. Rosaiah was in Vizianagaram on Monday as part of his two-day official trip to north coastal Andhra to initiate various development works.
