Two recent news reports caught the attention of Andhra residents, both not given much space in the mainstream “national” English media – both are legal in nature, dealing with Court observations of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.
One deals with his absence/refusal to make an appearance in court, regarding a case involving his claims of victimhood in a 2018 airport stabbing case in Vishakapatnam. The other, a Supreme Court comment on Jagan Reddy’s government allowance to government “volunteer” employees, for a monthly newspaper subscription, favoring his own newspaper, amounting to unfair/illegal state sponsorship of his private publication against all other local news publications.
These two legal matters coupled with the latest report on India’s wealthiest CMs with Jagan topping the list at self-declared assets worth a whopping ₹510 crores, has people questioning the AP Chief Minister’s sketchy past, his policies and tactics, amidst several complaints of financial irregularities, corruption and massive financial debts for the state, indicative of unhealthy spending and expenditure.
Add to this unsavory mix, the fact that Jagan is a Chief Minister with as many as 31 pending CBI cases against him including those of a criminal nature, it leaves one with feelings of discomfort and worry for the future of Andhra Pradesh.
1) The case of alleged victimhood in the Vishakapatnam airport stabbing: The 75-year-old mother of the accused man, J Srinivas Rao, had written to the former Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, about the plight of her son in jail, requesting that the case be either expedited for a declaration of the truth or that her son be granted bail.
The incident took place in 2018 when the previous TDP party was in power, before Jagan Reddy and his YSR Congress party (YSRCP) won the 2019 state elections. Jagan allegedly sustained a minor injury on his arm when Srinivas Rao, a contract worker at a canteen in the Vishakapatnam airport, raised a “Kodi Kathi” (small, sharp knife used in rooster fights) on him. At the time of the incident, Jagan cried foul and tried to implicate the TDP government in power, led by his arch political enemy, Chandrababu Naidu.
The TDP on its part denied any involvement in something as petty and shameful. The TDP claimed it was a cheap publicity gimmick by Jagan and his YSRCP party, intended to draw sympathy before the state’s 2019 elections. The incident did indeed bring Jagan, some sympathy from the public.
Some leaders speculated that Jagan, given the list of criminal cases against him, was capable of organizing such an incident himself, out of desperation for public attention and sympathy ahead of the elections. With the truth yet to be revealed, it does appear strange that Jagan has thus far, not made a court appearance, as requested by the NIA (National Investigation Agency), in his own defence.
Jagan’s odd behavior with regards to the incident and the court case, lends credence to the conspiracy theories of some Opposition lesders, that the incident may have been a self-organized one, intended for publicity and sympathy before the 2019 state elections. Will the truth be revealed in the near future? Will the accused, in jail for four years now, have a fair hearing without political intimidation? Incidentally, the NIA dismissed Jagan’s claims of political vendetta on the opposition.
2) Brazen alleged illegal attempt to promote own newspaper: An A.P government order (GO) sanctioned ₹200 per month from the State funds, as an added financial allowance to each government appointed village (gram) Volunteer/Ward Volunteer to enable them to purchase one widely circulated Telugu newspaper, which would give them regular and timely information of the YSRCP Government schemes and current A.P and national news.
It was pointed out that the monthly subscription charge of the newspaper “Sakshi” was ₹176.50 per month while the monthly rate for “Eenadu” newspaper was ₹207.50 per month.
It was argued that the government had intentionally fixed the additional grant of ₹200 per month to suit the monthly subscription charges of “Sakshi”, Jagan Reddy’s own newspaper, in order to increase the circulation and popularity of the Sakshi daily and overthrow the well established, more reputable, more popular “Eenadu” paper as well as other private publishers.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ushodaya Publications, parent company of Eenadu contended:
“This is a matter in which it is virtually a state newspaper. How can a state have its own newspaper? This should be heard by this court now. This is too important an issue.”
The bench that heard the plea comprised of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala.
CJI DY Chandrachud orally remarked to the counsel for the A.P government, C.S Vaidyanathan:
“Mr Vaidyanathan, According to them, you have fixed the amount at ₹200. They say that the only newspaper which is under ₹200 is Sakshi. It should not really appear that the government is making one newspaper a preferred newspaper. So long as the ceiling which you fix allows for a number of newspapers to have a level playing field, that should serve the purpose. ₹200 is very obvious.”
The judges were curious and enquired about A.P’s “volunteer” program. Advocate Rohatgi explained that it was a Jagan Reddy government project called “grama (village) volunteer” scheme, mostly comprising of people that supported the current YSRCP government, led by Jagan. “You can call them party workers or call them supporters,” said Rohatgi.
The bench questioned Vaidyanathan on how the A.P government could ensure a level playing-field for all newspapers, as should be the case in any state. The advocate for the A.P government answered “We offered in the court that we will increase the ceiling limit amount.”
Rohatgi, counsel for the Eenadu group, was not completely convinced by the Government counsel’s answer. As of now, the court has listed the continuance of the case for 17th April 2023.
In the meanwhile, the newspaper case against the A.P government, puts the spotlight on the details of the Jagan Reddy government’s dubious “volunteer” scheme/project, which consists of paid positions, making the term “volunteer” misleading.
He added yet another human bureaucratic layer to the already existing layers of government administration at the village/Ward level, allegedly filling the created “volunteer” posts with people from/supporters of his own YSRCP party, to be paid for with State funds and adding an additional burden to the State’s exchequer.
More details to follow in PART 2.
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