Chandrababu Naidu Likens Jagan Mohan Reddy's Rule In Andhra To Drug Lord Pablo Escobar

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu drawn a stark comparison between the state's law and order situation under former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar Naidu stated that Andhra Pradesh had become the "Ganja capital" of India during Jagan's tenure.

While presenting a White Paper in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Naidu remarked, "I am the senior-most politician in the country and I have never seen a situation like it was in Andhra when Jagan was in power. There was only one person who can compare to what happened in Andhra, drug lord Pablo Escobar."

Comparison to Pablo Escobar

Naidu elaborated on his comparison by explaining Escobar's background. "Pablo Escobar is a Colombian drug lord, he is a narco terrorist. He turned politician and then started his cartel to sell drugs. He earned $30 billion at that time, which is worth $90 billion now. He was arrested in 1976 and in 1980 he became the number one richest drug lord in the world," Naidu said.

He further criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy's ambitions, stating, "One can become richer by selling drugs as well. What was the aim of former chief minister (Jagan)? Tata, Reliance, Ambani have money, and he aspired to become richer than them. Few have needs, few have greed and few have mania and these maniacs do these kinds of things."

Law and Order Concerns

The Telugu Desam Party chief highlighted the deteriorating law and order situation during Jagan's administration. "You would have seen what kind of law and order situation was prevalent in Andhra Pradesh when Jagan during the previous government," he said.

Naidu also recalled specific incidents to illustrate his point. He mentioned the murder of YSRCP MLC Ananta Satya Udaya Bhaskar's driver in 2022 as an example of the chaos during Jagan's rule. The driver was allegedly killed by Ananta Bhaskar, who later delivered the body to the driver's house while claiming it was an accident.

Drug Issues in Villages

Naidu expressed concern over the widespread availability of ganja in Andhra Pradesh villages. "Ganja is easily available in every single village in Andhra Pradesh now. Has the former chief minister addressed the issue even once during his tenure?" he questioned.

He urged young people not to ruin their lives with drugs and assured that his government would tackle this problem decisively. "I appeal to the youth not to destroy their families. We're determined to control this issue and nip it in the bud. It will happen soon," he said.

Accusations Against YSRCP

The Chief Minister accused YSRCP leaders of terrorising people while they were in power. He claimed that atrocities were committed against over 300 individuals from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes during their tenure.

"Several instances of killings and harassments were reported during their tenure," Naidu stated. He also accused Jagan Mohan Reddy's government of targeting TDP leaders by filing numerous cases against them, including 17 cases against himself.

Media Suppression Allegations

Naidu alleged that media freedom was stifled under Jagan's administration. "Cases were slapped on them and reported and media personnel were dragged to police stations," he said, adding that several reporters faced harassment during that period.