ANDHRA PRADESH: Jagan Dismisses Parakamani Case as a Minor Theft Claim
YSR Congress Party leader Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy addressed reporters at the party’s central office in Tadepalli on December 4, 2025.
He sharply criticized the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led coalition for what he called a pattern of political harassment and policy failures.
Drawing from recent events, Reddy highlighted issues in temple administration, healthcare, liquor trade, and land development, urging a return to accountable governance.
Defending the Parakamani Case
Reddy dismissed allegations surrounding the Srivari Parakamani theft at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams as overblown for political gain.
He noted that the incident involved just $9 in foreign currency, equivalent to about Rs.810 at the current exchange rate of roughly Rs.90 per dollar.
The thief’s family, in a gesture of remorse, donated assets valued at Rs.14 crore to the deity, an act Reddy described as unprecedented in global temple history.
Such resolutions followed standard judicial processes: a case was filed, a charge sheet submitted in Tirupati court, and the matter settled through the Mega Lok Adalat.
Reddy pointed out that enhanced surveillance under his government’s tenure actually uncovered the theft.
He questioned if similar incidents in other Indian temples ever led to comparable restitution, accusing the TDP of twisting facts to target former TTD officials.
Protests Against Medical College Privatization
Reddy announced a multi-phase campaign against the coalition’s push to privatize new government medical colleges under a public-private partnership model.
These institutions, built on public land with state-funded staff and salaries, would see private owners pocket profits while taxpayers bear the costs.
He warned this shift undermines affordable healthcare for the underprivileged.
The YSRCP plans to showcase one crore signatures collected from assembly constituencies on December 10.
District-level rallies follow on December 13, culminating in a petition to the governor on December 16.
Backed by district documents, the party intends to file a High Court challenge immediately after, vowing to reverse any such deals if returned to power.
Liquor Syndicate Allegations
Reddy accused the TDP of controlling the entire liquor ecosystem, from manufacturing to retail outlets like belt shops and permit rooms.
He highlighted the Mulakalacheruvu adulterated liquor case, where YSRCP’s Jogi Ramesh faced arrest on what he termed fabricated evidence.
Yet, TDP figures Jayachandra Reddy and Giridhar Reddy, linked to the scandal, remain untouched.
This selective justice, Reddy argued, echoes tactics that fuel unrest, likening it to conditions breeding Naxalism.
He claimed the coalition’s “Red Book” playbook empowers only insiders, harassing opponents like Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and Venkataram Reddy through baseless charges.
Such moves, he said, erode public trust in law enforcement.
Closing Corruption Files Quietly
The former chief minister alleged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, out on bail in a liquor-related case, is quietly quashing probes against himself.
Reddy accused Naidu of breaching bail terms by pressuring officials to retract statements and file misleading petitions. This, he said, distorts the YSRCP’s liquor policy, which aimed to regulate sales transparently.
Reddy listed multiple corruption inquiries being shelved through intimidation, calling it a blatant abuse of power.
He promised to counter these efforts by publicizing evidence and pursuing legal recourse, emphasizing that divine and public scrutiny would eventually prevail.
Land Grabs for Amaravati Expansion
Reddy targeted Naidu’s fixation on Amaravati, labeling it a scam without clear purpose.
With 53,000 acres already acquired lying unused, the government eyes another 53,000, he claimed.
Naidu’s associates allegedly buy land cheaply beforehand, then receive preferential allotments post-development.
This cycle, Reddy explained, favors insiders: plots for allies get prime spots and upgrades, while others languish undeveloped.
He urged clarity on allocation, who gains, who loses, and warned against repeating past irregularities in compensation and pooling. True progress, he stressed, demands equitable planning over crony benefits.
Jagan Reddy’s remarks underscore a deepening rift in Andhra politics, where opposition voices decry institutional weaponization.
As protests loom, the stage is set for courtroom battles that could redefine accountability in the state’s corridors of power.