Not talking against any party, only against certain policies: Rebel YSRCP MP

 

by IANS | Thu, Oct 08, 2020, 04:02 PM

Amaravati, Oct 8 (IANS) Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, rebel YSRCP Member of Parliament from Narasapuram constituency in Andhra Pradesh, said he is unfit for politics as he speaks the "bloody truth" and gets criticised by people.

The Christian minority institutions-educated Raju, 58, is especially worried about the financial position of the state, attacks on temples among other issues confronting the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.

Though AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is known for exacting complete discipline and loyalty from his subordinates, just like his late father and CM Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, Raju has curiously emerged as an aberration.

In a freewheeling interview with IANS, the affluent MP from lush green West Godavari district voiced his concern on several issues rocking the southern state.

Q: What is the state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh?

A: There is a huge financial crisis. Even this month's salaries are delayed, that is the news.

So there is a huge financial crisis and debt. The debt that was intended in the budget to be taken for the full year has already been taken in five months. So how will you manage the balance? That is a big puzzle now. It is a billion dollar question.

Q: When did you join YSRCP?

A: I joined 10 days before nomination. April 4, 2019.

Q: I see that you are talking a lot against your party?

A: I am not talking against my party, please correct yourself. I am talking against certain policies of the government. I have never spoken even a word against my party.

Q: Your party people are saying so...

A: Party people may say anything. I have never uttered any word against the party. I am only supporting Hinduism because I am a Hindu.

There is no need for me to say I am a Christian. I respect all religions, I love my religion. Nothing wrong in loving your own religion. And I respect Christianity, I studied in missionary schools.

Q: Why isn't the Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, giving you an appointment, you have mentioned it many a time?

A: This you ask the chief minister, why are you asking me? No, I don't know. I have asked for time, he is not giving me time.

I can only tell that I have asked him for time. Other than that he not giving me the time, if at all you get any opportunity to talk to him, I don't think you would get that opportunity in your lifetime, but if at all you get that opportunity, you can ask him.

Q: What is the status of your relationship with the YSRCP?

A: I am still in YSRCP. They wanted to disqualify me, they filed a petition to the Lok Sabha Speaker, but that is not possible.

Because I did not go against the whip and I did not go against the party line when they had given the whip or I did not try to break the party (code) or anything.

I am only expressing my views as a Hindu when there were attacks on temples in the state where not even a single case was filed.

These are the things I am against, the decisions of the government. But they think that there is no difference between party and government.

They can't recognise the difference between the party and government. If I criticise the government they think that I am criticising the party. If I criticise the chief minister, they think that I am criticising the party president, that is the whole problem.

Q: But the government has filed cases, recently they have arrested some people, they gave the Antarvedi case to CBI for investigation?

A: In Antarvedi they have arrested people, I am not disputing that. In Antarvedi they have arrested people who have pelted stones on a church compound wall, not the people who have burnt the chariot.

If you think that 40 people were arrested for burning the chariot, I am sorry.

Q: What unique contribution did you give to your constituency Narasapuram?

That I can't say, I have done so many. I need one hour to explain what all I did. I did so many, despite no support from my state government. With central support I did many things, that we will discuss separately.

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