Attack on Jagan Reddy: YSRCP demands central agency probe, TDP smells conspiracy

A delegation of Yuvajana Sramika Ryhtu Congress Party (YSRCP) on Monday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding a central agency investigation into an alleged attempt to murder Andhra Pradesh opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy at the Visakhapatnam airport.

"We have submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister saying that an impartial investigation by a neutral agency other than the Andhra Pradesh Police is required in order to investigate this particular case," YSRCP Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy told ANI.

Accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of prejudice, Sai Reddy said that his party has no confidence in the probe monitored by the Andhra Pradesh government. "We have absolutely no faith in the Andhra Pradesh government and the reason is that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has given a statement even before the probe began that the attacker was a sympathiser of YSRCP," he said.

Rebuking Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) RP Thakur for giving a clean chit to the accused who attacked Jaganmohan, Sai Reddy said, "DGP has also given a clean chit to the attacker even before the police began a probe".

"How do you expect us to believe that the investigation will be fair under these circumstances?" asked Sai Reddy.

Meanwhile, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleged that it saw a conspiracy behind this attack to destabilise the Andhra Pradesh government.

TDP MP K. Ravindra Kumar told ANI: "This meeting (with Home Minister) exposes the planned conspiracy; what Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu already said, it is aimed to destabilise the government in Andhra Pradesh. As a part of this, they (YSRCP delegation) came to the Centre and gave a representation".

"According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a charge sheet against him is already there in connection with misappropriation of Rs. 43,000 crore by way of corruption.... first Jagan should answer on that and then demand another probe," he added.

Stating that the investigation into the attack on Jaganmohan wasn't in the hands of the Chief Minister or DGP, Kumar noted that the place of offence comes under the central government.

"A case has been registered and the matter is under investigation, they should wait," he added.

When asked as to why the TDP viewed the attack on Jaganmohan as a 'conspiracy', Kumar said: "They utilised this incident also for the purpose of destabilising the state government."

He added, "To give a hand to the Centre to initiate some action against the state government and also the investigating agency in this case. It's done with a political intention to defame our Chief Minister and also to demoralise the police officers."

On October 25, a canteen boy working at the Visakhapatnam airport attacked Jaganmohan with a sharp object at the airport.