YSRCP leader alleges false propaganda to divert focus from ₹5,000 crore land grab

Former Minister Gudivada Amarnath on Tuesday alleged that the State government was indulging in false propaganda and political conspiracies to divert public attention from an alleged ₹5,000 crore land grab involving the family of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu. He also referred to a CBI-led SIT report, stating that it had confirmed there was no animal fat in the Tirumala laddu. He accused the government of failing to maintain law and order and of provoking religious sentiments for political gains.

Addressing a press conference at the YSR Congress Party office here, Mr. Amarnath said the government was playing with the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus and, when questioned, was resorting to violence to evade responsibility. As part of this alleged strategy, anonymous flexis and hoardings bearing photographs of YSRCP leaders were erected across the State. He described the attack on former Minister Ambati Rambabu’s residence as barbaric and alleged that within 24 hours of that incident, another former Minister, Jogi Ramesh, was targeted and his house was allegedly attacked using petrol bombs.

Referring to alleged land encroachments, Mr. Amarnath claimed that Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, a relative of Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, had encroached upon about 54 acres of government land. While the MP reportedly claimed that the land was worth ₹1,000 crore, YSRCP president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had stated that its value was ₹5,000 crore.

He also countered allegations regarding land allocation for an international school during the YSRCP regime, stating that the land was allotted at ₹1 crore per acre with strict conditions, including the mandatory provision of 25% free seats for poor students. In contrast, he alleged that the GITAM institution was allotted 71 acres of government land in 1998 at just ₹18,000 per acre and questioned whether even a single free seat had been provided in nearly four decades.

Mr. Amarnath further criticised NDA leaders over the recent GVMC Council meeting, alleging that despite opposition from YSRCP members, resolutions were passed by locking the doors and refusing to allow the media into the meeting hall.