BJP now terms Jagan's arrest as delayed action, demands probe

New Delhi, May 29: A day after it termed YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy's arrest as political vendetta,

on Tuesday appeared to change its stand, saying action against him was much delayed and demanded that "cover-up of big-ticket" corruption in Andhra Pradesh between 2004-09 be exposed.

In an ostensible bid to clarify that it had no sympathies for Jagan and was not seeking a possible alliance with him, the BJP said his arrest was "waiting to happen" as he is facing serious charges of financial wrongdoing.

The party also demanded that cases against Jagan- which pertain to the period when his father Y S R Reddy was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh- should be probed thoroughly to bring out the truth.

"There is total mess in Andhra Pradesh.... The disproportionate assets cases against him (Jaganmohan) have been there for long. Even the court has asked what was the government doing for so long. He is the son of the most favoured chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, YSR Reddy. BJP thinks this is a delayed action," party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

She alleged that Congress had caused the delay and the arrest should have taken place "a long time back".

Yesterday, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy had targeted the Congress on Jaganmohan's arrest, insisting those in the Congress ministry in Andhra Pradesh who are facing charges in the same cases continue to hold Cabinet berths.

Asked if there has been a rethink now within the BJP on the issue, Sitharaman said the party still insists that action should be taken against the six ministers facing graft charges but if Jaganmohan is guilty he should face the consequences.

PTI