Votes for Jagan will strengthen mafia: VHR

Rajya Sabha member and senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao on Sunday said that voting for YSR Congress party would be like voting for factionists and mafia. Therefore, he appealed to the voters of 18 assembly and one Parliament constituencies to vote consciously in the by-elections to be held on June 12.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, Hanumantha Rao alleged that YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy had links with the factionists and mafia elements. He said probe by the Crime Investigation Department has revealed that Bhanu Kiran, the prime accused in the murder case of factionist Suri, had link with Jagan Mohan Reddy. He said Suri and Bhanu Kiran, who were involved in several cases of land settlements, encroachment and murders, were found having nexus with Jagan Mohan Reddy. He said Bhanu has reportedly made several shocking revelations about his links with Jagan to the CBI.

Hanumantha Rao said that so far he thought Jagan was confined to corruption, financial misappropriations and embezzlement. However, the latest revelations have led him to believe that Jagan was also having nexus with murderers. In the given circumstances, he said, people should vote consciously and should not elect candidates having criminal connections.

The Congress MP also criticised the senior leaders of his party for not countering the allegations being levelled by Jagan and his partymen against the ruling party and High Command. He said the leaders should effectively counter such allegations. He said Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy too has been maintaining silence about Jagan on the hopes that he would return to the Congress party. However, he said Jagan would never come back to the Congress party.

Hanumantha Rao also condemned BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu's silence over Jagan's alleged corrupt practices. He said the BJP looks quite inclined towards Jagan Mohan Reddy and for the same reason its leaders were not targeting him on corruption.

The Rajya Sabha MP said that the Congress party could win the by-elections based on the development and welfare schemes being implemented for different sections of the society.