Lokesh attends defamation case hearing in Vizag; slams land grabbing, promises 5 lakh tech jobs

Visakhapatnam: The minister for IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Monday visited Visakhapatnam on Monday to appear before a local court on the defamation case he filed against a news daily.

The case goes back to 2019 when a local newspaper published an article stating that Lokesh, during his previous term as a minister under the TDP government then, spent Rs 25 lakh of public money on snacks.

“I demanded a clarification be published and an apology from that newspaper but that newspaper published more such stories only to make people believe in the false news, he told the media.

Stating that he has been waging a legal battle against that daily for the past five years, Lokesh said that since this is his personal visit he is spending money from his pocket and did not purchase even a single water bottle with government funds. “My mother always taught me that I should not depend on government funds and I will take this case to its logical end despite several adjournments,” Lokesh added.

Lokesh takes a dig at YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy

Lokesh said that the YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, does not have faith in his own mother and sister.

“Then, how can he repose faith in other party leaders as Jagan is a leader who offers his own party for sale and this is turning out to be true as leaders of the YSRCP are quitting the party one after the other,” he remarked.

ED started probe into land grabbing allegations on Vijaya Sai Reddy

Since the inquiry is going on against all those who had ‘blatantly violated the law’, including some officers, the IT minister said that all the facts will come out soon, making it clear that any person found violating the law will be punished.

The Kakinada Port has been illegally grabbed by the former MP, Vijaya Sai Reddy, he said and added that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started an inquiry into it.

Action will certainly be initiated on illegal land occupations in Visakhapatnam, Lokesh said and clarified that it is not a political vendetta.

Lokesh on foreign investments from Davos

Lokesh demanded that former minister, Amarnath Reddy, should provide the details on the investments that he has brought from Davos to the State.

“The TDP-led NDA government within six months has successfully brought investments of Rs 6,33,568 crore to provide employment to 4,10,128 people,” Lokesh said and stated that chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu, has been visiting Davos since 1997 but never entered into any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with any company there.

“We will discuss and enter into an MoU as per their interest. In fact, we have not entered into an MoU with ArcelorMittal as they have made it clear that they will directly set up their unit here,” Lokesh said. The necessary permissions have been accorded to that company and land too will be allotted to it so that the company will start functioning within six or seven months, he added.

Since Maharashtra has a stable government, the State is getting investments, the minister said and felt that only a stable government can create confidence among the investors. A globally renowned industrialist has made it clear that he made futile attempts in Davos to meet the then chief minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, and now the same person said that he is getting ready to invest in the State.

‘North Andhra will get good news soon’

Announcing that North Andhra, including Visakhapatnam, will soon receive very good news, Lokesh said that the former minister, RK Roja, does not know the difference between Davos and Zurich. “Why are the YSRCP leaders scared of the Red Book,” he asked.

All basic amenities for the TCS have been provided, the IT minister said and announced that the subsidies too will be released soon along with land allocation.

“Any issue can now be resolved through WhatsApp and the TCS will be set up here in another 90 days. However, to construct a permanent building it may take two to three years,” he said.

Promising to provide five lakh jobs in Visakhapatnam in the coming five years, Lokesh said that new innovations like AI, deep tech and big data are being introduced in the IT sector now.

“Necessary cooperation will be extended to start-ups through Ratan Tata Innovation Hub,” he said and stated that discussions will be held with the Union Civil Aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, with regard to Payakaraopeta-Tuni airport.

‘Won’t let privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant’

Making it clear that the State Government is committed to the promise that the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant will not be allowed to be privatised, Lokesh said that this steel plant is being protected despite several such plants being privatised across the country.

The Rushikonda buildings will be opened to the public in the next three months, Lokesh said and added that the students will not face any kind of difficulties with the Vidya Deevena scheme as funds are being credited directly to the accounts of the colleges concerned.

Expressing his readiness to discharge whichever responsibility is given to him by Chandrababu Naidu, the IT minister said that he will make every effort to strengthen the party.