Naidu's name figures in the case, says KCR

Hyderabad, June 10 (INN): Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has specifically stated that the name of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu figures in the 'Cash for Vote' case.

Addressing a press conference Wednesday night after chairing the meeting of State Cabinet, KCR said Naidu was very much involved in the scam. "He spoke to various persons. His henchmen spoke to various persons. Now all those details are being retrieved by the investigating agencies," he said while maintaining that the Telangana Government did not tap anybody's phone. "We did not do anything illegal." he said.

The Chief Minister said the moment TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy approached nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, the latter lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Then, the ACB started probing into it. "You must come clean and clear on this issue. Is is not your voice? Whether money was given to the MLA or not? Whether you were caught red-handed or not?" he asked Naidu. He said that the law would take its own course in the case. "He is the thief who has been caught, blatantly and openly," he said while accusing him of "shouting with a big mouth".

KCR ridiculed Naidu's threat that his government would collapse if he arrests him. "This is the arrogance of Naidu, which is intolerable. You got elected due to your alliance with the BJP. We got mandate on our own and ours is a democratically elected government and it will not collapse," he said. Reacting on Naidu's request to the Centre to transfer Law and Order powers in Hyderabad to the Governor, KCR said that the situation would not arise. No single law and order issue occurred in Hyderabad during the last one year. The Governor is also watching the situation, he said. He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Central Government would not accept Naidu's request. "I don't expect the Government of India to support a bribery case. It was the worst form of corruption. So far, no one called me and I don't think anyone will call me on this issue," he said.

KCR claimed that the TRS had sufficient numbers to win the fifth seat in the MLC elections. As against 16 votes of TDP, TRS had 16.54 votes. He said besides MIM, YSRCP too had supported the TRS candidates. "With the support of just 11 TDP and five BJP MLAs, why did Chandrababu Naidu contest the polls. Who resorted to horse-trading?" he asked.

Replying to the allegations of encouraging defections in opposition parties, KCR pointed out that the TDP had lured two Lok Sabha MPs - SPY Reddy and Kothapalli Geetha into its party. Seven MLAs, nine MLCs and one Zilla Parishad chairman too have joined the TDP after elections. "All of them got elected on the ticket of other parties. How did you induct them into your party, if you were so ethical?" he asked.

KCR also made it clear that Chandrababu Naidu has no rights over Hyderabad. "You are nobody in Telangana. Hyderabad is not a common capital, but facilitating capital. It is a joint capital for not up to 10 years, but not exceeding years. You are a Guest CM and you have no rights here whatsoever," he told Naidu.

When asked whether Naidu would be arrested, KCR said, "Arresting criminals is not the job of the State Government. A legitimate agency is conducting the probe and the matter is now in court. Let them give a report and the State Government will take a decision," he said.