‘Let CID or any agency probe… they won’t find even a single piece of evidence. Bring it on’: Lokesh Naidu

It is a politically motivated case and arrest. I am very confident that Chandrababu Naidu or any Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader has done anything wrong. Till yesterday, my father’s name was not even in the CID’s FIR. The Skill Development Corporation (the case in which Chandrababu was arrested relates to it) was set up with the good intention of imparting skill training to unemployed youths so that they can get jobs. Unlike what the Jagan (Mohan Reddy) government says, the skill development project did not land on my father’s table randomly. It was proposed as it was being implemented in seven other states. The TDP government constituted a committee of IAS officers who went and studied the project and recommended it to the Cabinet, which approved it.

The skill development centres have a high strike rate – 60-65% of youths are placed in jobs. The project has high credibility and it was showcased by the Jagan government at the Global Investors’ Summit held earlier this year. All the allegations made against my father and his government are false and politically motivated. Since coming to power in 2019, Jagan and YSRCP leaders have been accusing Chandrababu of being involved in so many scams, but have been unable to produce any evidence.

* The CID has said that at least Rs 241 crore was diverted to shell companies, which was then siphoned off and Chandrababu and the TDP were prime beneficiaries.

Unlike Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, my father or my family do not have any shell companies. The CM is facing a CBI case for diverting money to his Jagathi Publications using shell companies. But have you ever heard of any shell companies owned by the Naidus? Once the Skill Development Corporation was created, it was run by the CEO and MD (Managing Director), and they made the purchases. It is not as if Chandrababu Naidu transferred the money. There was no quid pro quo. No evidence has been produced till now that shows that the monies which were allegedly siphoned off have gone into any bank accounts or entities which are in our names. The few persons who have been arrested in this case have already been released on bail because there is not much evidence against them.

The Jagan government first accused the TDP government and Chandrababu Naidu of Amaravati insider trading scam, then land pooling scam, and now skill development scam. But since the last four years, they have not been able to produce one shred of evidence. This arrest is illegal and he (Chandrababu) has been arrested because Jagan is increasingly scared of my father and his rising popularity.

*The CID says it will also investigate your role in this scam.

In what way am I associated with this? I was not even in the Cabinet at that time. I joined as IT and Panchayati Raj Minister in April 2017 and was there till May 2019. I had no role in the Skill Development Corporation or its business. To say that I will be investigated is a threat and intimidation.

My padyatra, which has become very popular, has also rattled Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSRCP, and they are trying to scuttle it. I keep saying everywhere, ‘Whatever the Jagan government throws at me and my father and TDP leaders, we will face it, because we have done nothing wrong and so we have no fear’. Let the CID or any agency investigate me, I am very confident that they won’t find even a single piece of evidence. Bring it on.

* How do you see the police carrying out the arrest early in the morning?

The manner in which he was arrested is highly condemnable. Actually, the police had reached to arrest him at 1:30 am, but his security put their foot down, saying they won’t allow it at such an hour. The police waited till dawn to execute the arrest. Meanwhile, throughout the night, the police were mobilised to keep TDP leaders under house arrest. The police are everywhere to prevent protests by TDP cadres.

I entered Razole in East Godavari district last night as part of my padyatra. I have been detained since 6 am here on the road along with my supporters. They are neither allowing me to go to meet my own father, nor they allowing me to proceed with the padyatra.