The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP,) on the 2nd of August, criticised Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (AP,) over his Jerusalem trip.
The criticism came after the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Government sanctioned Rs. 22.5 lakhs for the security of Y.S. Jagan and his family in Jerusalem.
Earlier, on the 26th of July, AP Government issued an order, saying Jagan’s tour to Jerusalem was a personal trip and the expenses were borne by him. The AP Government did not release any amount for the same.
Later, the YSRCP issued another order, according to which, Sivaraj Senthil Kumar, the Superintendent of Police (SP,) was asked to visit Jerusalem two days ahead of Jagan’s trip and check the security arrangements. A. Joshi, the Chief Security Officer, was also permitted to visit Israel and check all the security arrangements.
Again, on the 31st of July, the AP Government issued another order and sanctioned 22.52 lakhs to a private security agency.
Pattabhiram, the Spokesperson of the TDP, said, “Why has the Andhra Pradesh Government released money for the security of Jagan at Jerusalem? The money of Rs 22.5 lakh paid to a private travel agency might be a cover-up which in fact might be paid for Jagan family’s personal trip to Jerusalem (sic.)”
Mr. Pattabhiram targeted the AP Government over the recent delay in the payment of salaries to government employees and said the AP Government is not able to pay the salaries of employees, but can spend unnecessarily on the security of Jagan and his family.
Pattabhiram asked the YSRCP Government, “What was the need for private security abroad, instead of using (the) services of the Indian embassy?”
Besides, V. Satya Murthy, the General Secretary of the BJP in AP, also sought an explanation from the AP Government regarding the public money paid to the private security agency.
Jagan Mohan Reddy, on the 1st of August, flew to Jerusalem for a 4 day trip with his family. This is his first foreign trip after becoming the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Jagan Mohan Reddy is scheduled to return to Hyderabad on the 5th of August.
Stay tuned for further updates.
