Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy

Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy
యెదుగూరి సందింటి జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డి
Member of Legislative Assembly (India)
Preceded by Y. S. Vijayamma
Constituency Pulivendula
Personal details
Born 21 December 1972
Pulivendula village of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh
Political party YSR Congress (2011–present)
Other political
affiliations
Indian National Congress (Before 2011)
Spouse(s) Y S Bharati
Relations Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (father)
Children 2 daughters
Residence Hyderabad/Bangalore
Religion Christian Protestant

Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy (born 21 December 1972),[1] also called Jagan is an Indian politician and is President of YSR Congress and Leader of Opposition in AP assembly.[2] He is the son of the former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

He started his political career by campaigning for Congress party in 2004 elections in Kadapa District, and in the 2009 elections he was elected as member of Parliament from Kadapa constituency as a member of the Indian National Congress.

However, his political career took a new innings with the demise of his father, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ("YSR"). His relationship with the Indian National Congress (INC) continuously deteriorated after his father's death[3]

Jagan has been the Leader of the Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly since June 2014.

Personal life

Jaganmohan Reddy was born 21 December 1972 in Pulivendula village of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh. He received his early education from Pulivendula and Hyderabad Public School. He founded the daily Telugu language newspaper Sakshi and the television channel Sakshi TV.[4] He is the chief promoter of Bharathi Cements.[5] Reddy is a Protestant Christian.[6] He has a younger sister, Y. S. Sharmila, a politician.

Political life

Six months after his father's death, he began an odarpu yatra (condolence tour) as promised earlier to go and meet the families of those alleged to have either committed suicide or suffered ill health on the news of his father's death. The Congress party's central leadership directed him to call off his odarpu yatra, and order which he defied leading to a fallout between the high command and himself. He went ahead with the yatra, stating that it was a personal matter.[7]

Jagan as a president of YSR Congress faced by-election from the Kadapa constituency and won by the huge margin of 545,043 votes.[8]

On 29 November 2010, he resigned, after a fallout with the Congress party high command.[9] He announced on 7 December 2010 from Pulivendula that he would be starting a new party within 45 days. In February, 2011, he took over a party which had existed on paper only since the prior July, and was officially recognized on 16 February as president of the YSR Congress Party.[10]

On 15 April 2015, YS Jagan started 3 days project yatra to visit Polavaram , Pattiseema, Prakasham Barrage, veligonga Tunnel and other projects. This is being undertaken by YS Jagan to expose the TDP Government’s step-motherly treatment of the all-important irrigation sector and mostly focusing the governments ignorance in construction of Polavaram project and hurry about pattiseema scheme. He Arrived at the polavaram project and researched about the construction work. After his discussion with farmers about the project, He Says, “ the way Pattiseema project is been taken up, in a hurry makes the intention of the State Government very clear, that it wants to make Polavaram redundant." While Polavaram project needs Rs 16,000 crores, YSR has sanctioned Rs 4,000 crores and the officials tell me that during the past 11 months only Rs 100 crores was released. This apathy makes it clear that the State wants to push it in cold storage. Later he visited Pattiseema, Prakasam Barrage and other Rayala seema projects.

Corruption Charges

Y.S.R. Reddy's election declaration of 2004 included tax returns showing Jagan's assets at Rs. 9.2 lakh, out of a total family assets of Rs. 50 lakhs.[11] In April 2009, Jagan revealed total assets of Rs. 77 crores, and by 2011 this has allegedly increased to amount Rs. 365 crore.[12]

In August 2011, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, based on preliminary report by the CBI, ordered a thorough probe.[13] In addition to the CBI, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)[14] and the Indian Revenue Service (IRS)[15] have been probing the corruption charges, Later He was arrested and in jail for 16 months.


Arrest and 16 months in jail

Jagan Reddy was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on embezzlement charges and his Judicial custody was extended repeatedly as the investigation proceeded.[16][17][18] [19] The Andhra Pradesh High Court, in rejecting bail,[20] observed:

taking note of serious nature of the offence and having regard to personal and financial clout of the appellant and finding that it cannot be ruled out that witnesses cannot be influenced by him in case he is released on bail at this stage.[21]

The Supreme Court also dismissed his petition in 4 July 2012,[22][23] 9 August 2012,[24] and on 13 May 2013.[21]

Meanwhile, the CBI filed a further charge-sheet against him 17 September 2013. The new charge-sheet relate to the Sandur power and Lepakshi knowledge hub which were floated by Jagan in which the latter received huge investments on a quid pro quo arrangement while his father was chief minister (2004 to 2009).[25] After the filing of this chargesheet, the court granted him bail on the grounds that most of the investigation in the case was completed.

Charges of political vendetta

The YSR Congress and Jagan's family have been alleging a political conspiracy behind Jagan's investigations.[26][27] BJP has noted that CBI has been pursuing this case with greater vigour than that of government-aligned politicians with similar charges such as Sushil Kumar Shinde or Vilasrao Deshmukh.[28]

On the other side, the CBI’s former joint director V V Laxminaryana has stated in court that he was being targeted by the YSRC leaders after Jagan's arrest, and that he was receiving calls threatening his life.[25]

Other Congress ministers arrested for issuing orders

In March 2012, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to extend their investigations to six ministers (Kanna Lakshminarayana, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Sabita Indra Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, J Geetha Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao), and eight senior bureaucrats, who were implicated in issuing 26 Government orders that helped the companies investing in Jagan's firms.[29] Andhra Excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana was arrested on 24 May 2012.[30]

CBI also summoned BCCI chief Mr N Srinivasan on 7 June 2012.[31]

As a sequel to allegations that CBI had selectively released information to the press to tarnish the image of Jaganmohan Reddy, the Central Vigilance Commissioner sought a report on the matter from the investigating agency.[32]

Opposition to the formation of Telangana

While in jail, Reddy started a hunger strike opposing the United Progressive Alliance's decision to endorse the creation of a separate Telangana state. After 125 hours of indefinite hunger strike, his sugar levels and blood pressure were down. He was moved to Osmania General Hospital for treatment.[33] His mother, MLA Vijayamma, is also on hunger strike protesting the formation of Telangana out of AP.[34] After his release, Reddy called for a 72-hour bandh protesting the formation of Telangana.[35] Both Jagan and his mother have resigned from their legislatures opposing the Telangana decision[36]

References

  1. Bio
  2. "AP Legislature". Center for Good Governance. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  3. Venkatesha Babu and C.R. Sukumar (2010-04-20). "Frances Vicat buys 51% stake in Bharathi Cement". Livemint. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  4. "Who is Jagan Reddy?" Hindustan Times 29 November 2010
  5. "Defiant Jagan to go ahead with 'Odarpu' yatra". The Times Of India. 22 August 2010.
  6. "Kadapa Bypoll: Jagan wins by 545,043 votes". India Today. 13 May 2011.
  7. letter
  8. Rao, A. Srinivasa, "Jaganmohan Reddy acquires YSR Congress Party from worker" India Today 17 February 2011
  9. TN Ashok. "How rich are our politicians?". Industrial Economist. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
  10. A Srinivasa Rao (28 May 2012). "How Jagan Reddy became the richest Lok Sabha MP in India, and what is his real worth?". India Today.
  11. DHNS. "CBI told to probe into Jagan’s wealth; He amassed Rs 43k crore in six yrs, claims petition" Deccan Herald 10 August 2011
  12. "Land doles cost Andhra Rs 1 Lakh Crore: CAG". Indian Express. 30 Mar 2012. Retrieved 30 Mar 2012.
  13. B. Chandrashekhar (June 23, 2013). "Dalmia Cement’s investment in Jagan’s firm was quid pro quo". Chennai, India: The Hindu.
  14. "CBI names Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy as prime accused in assets case". India Today. 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  15. Jagan to stay in jail till 11 June, a day before key elections:NDTV
  16. "DA case: Jagan's custody extended, Sabitha appears in court". Calcutta, India: Telegraphindia.com. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  17. PTI (4 July 2012). "Jagan’s bail plea rejected". The Hindu (Chennai, India). Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  18. 21.0 21.1 Quote: "as a quid pro quo to these investments, the benefits were received by various investors from the decisions of the State Government in allotment of lands for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), contracts for irrigation projects, special relaxations/permissions for real estate ventures, mines etc. It is further revealed that Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laundered the bribe money by routing it through various individuals and companies and getting investments made by them in his companies." Companies mentioned in the judgment: Dalmia Cements, India Cements, Indu Group of Builders
  19. Justice Aftab Alam and Mrs. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (4 July 2012). "Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy vs C.B.I. Anti-Corruption Branch". Supreme Court of India.
  20. Justice Aftab Alam and Mrs. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (4 July 2012). "Supreme Court of India Judgment: Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy vs C.B.I. Anti-Corruption Branch".
  21. Venkatesan, J. (9 August 2012). "SC dismisses Jagan’s plea against arrest in DA case". The Hindu (Chennai, India).
  22. 25.0 25.1 "Another charge-sheet against Jagan".
  23. YSR Cong cries foul over CBI’s ‘selective probe’
  24. "Vijayamma and Bharathi lash out at CBI on Jagan probe". Times AP.
  25. Jaganmohan's arrest political vendetta: BJP
  26. "Jaganmohan's assets case: SC notice to 6 Andhra ministers, 8 IAS officers". Times Of India. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  27. "Jaganmohan Reddy assets case: Andhra Pradesh minister arrested". The Times Of India. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  28. "CBI summons BCCI chief in Jagan case". The Times Of India. 8 June 2012.
  29. "CVC seeks CBI report over ‘media leaks’ about Jagan". 8 July 2012.
  30. "Jagan Shifted to OGH". Indistan News. 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  31. Indo-Asian News Service (24 August 2013). "Jagan Mohan Reddy's mother Vijayamma continues hunger strike in hospital". NDTV.
  32. pti (4 October 2013). "Telangana: Y S Jaganmohan Reddy blasts Centre, calls for 72 hour bandh". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  33. "Y S Jaganmohan Reddy resigns as MP over AP split; his mother quits Assembly". Indian Express. 10 August 2013.

External links