The YSR Congress Party on Tuesday demanded a CBI or judicial probe into the recent attack on its chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport and alleged that the incident was a "conspiracy" hatched by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Rubbishing the allegations, Andhra Pradesh chief minister's OSD for media affairs Telaprolu Srinivas Rao claimed that YSRCP leaders were trying to create unrest in the state.
The YSRCP alleged that the state police is "biased" in its investigation and is working as per the direction of the chief minister.
The party, however, asserted that Jagan, also is the leader of opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly, will continue his 'padayatra' across the state, undeterred by such attacks.
On October 25, Jagan was attacked by J Srinivas, who worked in a cafeteria at the airport.
Addressing the media here, YSRCP Rajya Sabha member V Vijaya Sai Reddy alleged: "The direct attack on Jagan is part of a big criminal conspiracy and was pre-planned. There is a suspicion that the CM was involved in the conspiracy."
Since there is a "black sheep" in the state government, he said, the party is not confident of the Andhra Pradesh police's investigation in the matter.
"So, we demand an inquiry either by the CBI or judiciary to unearth the fact," he said adding that a representation in this regard has been made to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
However, OSD to the Andhra Pradesh CM T S Rao alleged that "the person who attacked (Jagan) is a YSRCP man".
"They (YSRCP) are trying to give a negative impression....They are trying to create unrest in the state," he alleged and claimed that YSRCP was acting at the behest of a national party.
But the YSRCP questioned the police's handling of the case. YSRCP leader V Y Subba Reddy asked how the accused (Srinivas) was allowed to work on the airport premises despite having a criminal case pending against him.
He claimed that the state government might "divert" the case and therefore a third party probe is required.
Another YSRCP leader Varaprasad Rao said currently the probe is focused on the accused and not on conspirators.
"We want conspirators to be probed. This is not possible with the Andhra Pradesh police. Hence, we want a central agency to investigate the case," he added.
Asked why Jagan took medical treatment in Hyderabad and not in Visakhapatnam, the party leaders said, "He took first aid at the airport and flew to Hyderabad for further treatment as there was threat to his life."
They, however, said that the party president is unfazed by such attacks and would continue his padayatra across the state.
Botsa Satyanarayana, M Rajamohan Reddy, Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, V Prabhakar Reddy were among the YSRCP leaders present at the press conference.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
