Congress denies pressuring CBI for not arresting Jagan

AICC secretary and MLC Ponguleti Sudharkar on Tuesday dismissed the Telugu Desam Party's allegations that Congress party has prevented the Central Bureau of Investigation from arresting Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in disproportionate assets case.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, Ponguleti condemned TDP MLAs Devineni Uma, V Durga Prasad and M Lingareddy's charges that Congress party was mounting pressure on the CBI for not arresting Jagan.

Stating that the CBI was an independent investigation agency, he said that no one could influence its functioning.

Ponguleti expressed confidence that the Congress would emerge victorious in all the constituencies in the ensuing by-elections. He said that the welfare schemes launched by former chief minister YSR belonged to the Congress party. However, he said that the law would take its course on the corruption that took place during his regime.

Government whip E Anil came down heavily on YSR official spokesman Ambati Rambabau for criticising Revenue Minister N Raghuveera reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasad Rao. Condemning personal targeting of Ambati Rambabu, he advised him to 'mind his language' and warned him of 'serious consequences' if he fails to do so.

Anil asked Ambati Rambabau to make constructive suggestions to the government instead of leveling baseless charges. He alleged that Ambati Rambabu indulged in corruption as the chairman of APIIC and accumulated wealth to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

Government chief whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy dismissed charges of YSR Congress and Telugu Desam that the government neglecting farmers' problems in the State. Reiterating that the Congress party was committed to the welfare of farmers, he said that government has been bearing a burden of Rs 3,100 crore for towards power subsidy.

Apart from waiving farm loans, he said that government providing interest free loans to the tune of Rs one lakh to them.