No political vendetta behind Chandrababu Naidu's arrest, says YSRCP

VIJAYAWADA: YSRCP condemned the alleged politicisation of TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest. The party observed that the arrest was “legal” and investigation agencies handled it with “due diligence”. It said that there was no political vendetta behind Naidu’s arrest.
YSRCP general secretary and state government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said that Naidu was arrested for allegedly committing economic offences.
He told media that accusations of political vendetta were wrong. He said that Naidu was detained in the daylight, “following all legal procedures”. “Some of the TDP leaders were restricted by the police, in order to avoid any law and order problems. These leaders were obstructing the police in doing their job,” he said.
He alleged that Naidu had siphoned off huge public money through AP Skill Development Corporation “scandal”. He said that the “scandal” was originally unearthed in 2017 when Naidu himself was in power. He said that central agencies GST and ED have also taken up the probe.
YSRCP MLA (Atmakur) Mekapati Vikram Reddy said that the case is pertaining to “misuse” of public money and it is any government’s responsibility to act swiftly on allegation of misappropriation of public funds.
Nandyala MLA Silpa Ravi Reddy said that had it been a case of political vendetta as Naidu and his supporters are alleging, then his name would have appeared in the first FIR. “The very fact that it was not included means that it was a fair and unbiased investigation,” said Ravi Reddy.
Energy minister Peddiredday Ramahandra Reddy questioned the silence of Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan and CPI leaders Narayana and Ramakrishna over the alleged looting of public money.
Irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu said Naidu’s arrest was unavoidable as per the Indian Constitution. Housing minister Jogi Ramesh said the arrest of Naidu is a welcome development for the state.