Congress and BRS share a protection bond: Bandi Sanjay Kumar

Accusing the BRS and Congress of shielding each other’s “corruption” and “acts of deception”, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has alleged that the two parties are having a mutual understanding to defend each other from “wrong-doings” as part of a “protection bond.”

He was speaking to mediapersons in Karimnagar after participating in Raksha Bandhan festivities on Saturday.

Mr. Sanjay reiterated his demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the phone tapping during the previous BRS rule, saying the scope of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) currently probing the case is very limited.

The phone tapping was done under the K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) government in violation of the regulations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority, he said, saying, “This is entirely a matter under the jurisdiction of the Centre.

The accused extorted hundreds of crores of rupees from political leaders, businessmen and film actors through phone tapping, he charged. Where did that money go? he asked, saying finding an answer to that is beyond the capacity of SIT officials.

Responding to a query, he said, “We do have trust in the SIT officials. But we have no trust in the Congress government. In cases like irregularities in Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, power purchase agreements and the Formula E Race, and other scams surfaced during the previous BRS rule, the current Congress dispensation in the State is only delaying under the pretext of investigation without taking any action.”

He further alleged that the phones of several politicians including the present Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy were also tapped by the previous BRS government. Can the SIT issue a notice to the Chief Minister and summon him for questioning? Mr Sanjay asked.

It is imperative to hand over the phone tapping case to the central investigative agencies to complete the investigation quickly without delays, he insisted.

Replying to a question, he said, “The phones of the ministers, MLAs and MLCs were tapped. If BRS MLAs have any self-respect, they should leave that party.”

“BRS MLC Kalvakunta Kavitha should be served notices and questioned in the phone tapping case,” he said in reply to another query.

On BRS working president K T Rama Rao (KTR)’s reported statement to issue a legal notice to him, Mr Sanjay said, “I am ready to swear before God on phone tapping. Will KTR be ready to accept my challenge?”