Chandrababu garu, here's my challenge to you: Sharmila

YSR Congress Party leader, Sharmila took strong exception to TDP allegations that they are connected to the Rakshana steels.

Addressing a huge public gathering in Khammam as a part of her Maro Praja Prasthanam padayatra, Sharmila said: "We don't have any association with the Rakshana steels. If proved so, I will wind up my foot march and go home. If not, will Chandrababu Naidu quit his post and pack his bags?" she asked.

"Neither me nor my husband are in any way involved with either Bayyaram Mines or the Rakshana steels. We have made this clear many a times. However, Congress, TDP and BJP leaders are often making allegations against us. The lease of Bayyaram mines and Rakshana steels was canceled more than two years ago. And one must not forget that Balineni Srinivasa Rao, the minister during YSR regime and who's still with our party now, was the one who cancelled the lease. It was a closed chapter long back. But they are still using the issue to propagate false stories against our family, saying we own the mines, which is my father's wedding gift to me. Our detractors are also alleging that the companies are my benamis which is untrue,"  she said.

Worse, these false allegations have not been made just once or twice, but repeatedly over 100 times. And we have been rubbishing the report ever since. But looks like they are all thick skinned and their brains have nothing but trash. "I am challenging TDP partymen, particularly their chief Chandrababu Naidu. Chandrababu! Next time you wish to say Bayyaram Mines was allotted to YSR's son-in-law and daughter, remember my challenge. Today, I am telling you as YSR's daughter—If you prove that we are in any way involved with the mines, then I will pack my bags, apologise, stop the padayatra and go home. But Chandrabbau Naidu, if you fail to prove your allegations, will you resign and go home?" she challenged, adding that those who are making allegations against her family must take up this challenge.

YSR never granted Rakshana steels the right to dig Bayyaram Mines in Khammam. He always desired that Bayyaram Mines stay with the government organisation APMDC. When YSR saw the APMDC profits, he thought Bayyaram mines could be sold to Rakshana steels so they can construct a steel company in the Telangana region and also use Bayyaram ore.

She added that YSR wanted to set up a steel plant near Bayyaram mines at Rajole in Warangal as to facilitate employment opportunities to people there as Telangana is a backward region. His vision was that the tribes there too could be employed.

"Kiran Kumar Reddy who is boasting that 'YSR wanted privatization of Bayyaram mines and so I have allotted the same to Vishaka steels.' But he has done serious injustice to the tribes," she reasoned.

"Kiran Kumar Reddy garu and Telugu Desam leaders! I request you to visit Rajole once and talk to the tribes about the issue. You will then know how badly they will be affected if there's no steel factory. When Chandrababu allotted 25 lakh acres of diamond mines to a private company, that was right. But when YSR tried to use the APDMC profits to set up a plant in the  Telangana region, how can that be termed illegal?" she questioned.

The YSRCP leader also said "When Chandrababu Naidu was the chief minister, he allotted 850 acres of land in Hyderabad to IMG,a bogus company. The value of that land then was Rs. 2,500 crores. The current value of the same land is now Rs.10,000 cores. Was this not illegal on the part of Chandrababu to allot government lands at throwaway prices to his benami company? CBI is blind to Chandrababau Naidu's illegal activities."

Then isn't it right to say that Naidu, Congress and the CBI have joined hands?" said Sharmila

- Siva@sakshipost