TDP calls Jagan Reddy’s water release into the Kuppam canal a “ploy to deceive people.”
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) called Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s decision to release water into the Kuppam branch canal from the Krishna river “another ploy to deceive people” on Tuesday.
In a statement, the party said that Reddy “attempted to take credit for the hard work and efforts” of N Chandrababu Naidu, the leader of the TDP and a former chief minister, and that his accusations against Naidu were “baseless”.
“However, Jagan Reddy failed to properly claim credit, as he has not completed the pending works of the canal,” the opposition party said.
On Monday, the Chief Minister said that Naidu had “failed” to provide water to Kuppam, and he also discharged water into the Kuppam branch canal.
While Naidu spent over Rs 400 crore and completed 87% of the Kuppam canal project, the TDP claimed that Jagan Mohan Reddy had not completed construction of the remaining 13% of the canal.
“Within 12 hours of the water release, the flow to the Kuppam Branch Canal was halted, revealing Jagan Reddy’s move as a mere publicity stunt,” the party said in its statement. It said that, barely one day after the Chief Minister put water into the canal, fresh images revealed that it was dry.
It also claimed that YSRCP minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy had embezzled money intended for Kuppam canal repairs, preventing the project from being finished.
“YSRCP officials quickly and covertly filled the canal with cement when Jagan Reddy released the water, causing the cement to be swept away by the flow. The Kuppam people, however, were aware of Jagan Reddy’s deceit and his intention to damage N Chandrababu Naidu’s reputation, the party said.
