“If Innocent, Say It Like YSR Did”: Sharmila Slams Jagan

Andhra Pradesh Congress President Y.S. Sharmila launched a scathing attack on YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, questioning his failure to emulate the moral courage once displayed by his father, the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Referring to the allegations surrounding the state’s liquor policy, Y.S. Sharmila questioned why Jagan Mohan Reddy, who claims to be innocent, cannot assert his integrity by saying, “If I’m guilty, hang me,” as his father once had.

“Why can’t you, like your father, say boldly that if you’ve committed any wrong, you are ready to be hanged? Why can’t you declare that you are open to any investigation, whether by the CBI or a sitting judge?” Sharmila asked. She stated that the inability to make such a statement indicates Jagan Mohan Reddy’s lack of transparency and readiness for scrutiny. According to Sharmila, this silence is being interpreted by the public as an admission of guilt.

Sharmila also condemned the remarks made by Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding the police. She stated, “It is inappropriate for someone who has served as Chief Minister to make comments like stripping the police of their uniforms, chasing them down, and not sparing them even abroad.” She reminded the public of how Jagan Mohan Reddy allegedly misused the police system during his tenure, particularly in his dealings with leaders like Raghurama Krishna Raju. Sharmila warned that demeaning the police now, after having exploited the institution during his rule, is unacceptable.

She further criticized Jagan Mohan Reddy for consistently avoiding the Assembly sessions. “Why is Jagan Mohan Reddy not attending the Assembly sessions? At the very least, he should address the public in a media conference and respond to the allegations regarding cash-only liquor sales,” she said, accusing him of evading critical questions.

Targeting those surrounding Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sharmila questioned the credibility of his close associates. She objected to his defense of individuals like Avinash Reddy, who is reportedly facing CBI charges, calling him “just a child” or “innocent.” “Who needs such certificates from you? If someone is truly innocent, there are legal avenues to prove it. But you are not taking those paths,” she said.

Y.S. Sharmila concluded that this pattern of behavior is creating a growing perception among the public that Jagan Mohan Reddy is guilty.