Naidu compares Jagan to Colombian drug lord Escobar; announces police reforms, crackdown on cartels

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday drew a parallel between YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar over alleged drug menace and deteriorating law and order situation during his five-year rule.

Releasing a white paper on law and order and ganja prevalence, Naidu claimed that he had never seen such a situation before. "Only one person can be compared to what happened in Andhra, and it is Pablo Escobar," he said in the Assembly, in an apparent reference to the drug menace.

The CM further said that Escobar was a drug lord who illegally sold drugs worth billions of dollars and also went on to kill leaders and politicians who opposed him.

#AndhraPradesh----

Chief Minister @ncbn compared YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar as he slammed the state of law and order and alleged drug menace in the past five years.

He released a white paper on law and order and ganja prevalence on… pic.twitter.com/Uf2YcRQJfv

— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) July 25, 2024

Calling Escobar a "narco-terrorist", Naidu alleged that a similar situation had emerged in Andhra Pradesh under the YSRCP regime (2019-24) when ganja was allegedly freely available.

The CM alleged that the southern state had emerged as the ganja capital between 2019 and 2024 and vowed to crack down on it.

Talking about the crime and violence in the state, Naidu has made it clear that he will restore peace and security in the state, which has been completely damaged and will take steps towards a crime-free society.

Further, Naidu takes a stand on Social Media trolling. "Respect women. For those who abuse, troll women, or cause harm, strict action will be taken. A separate wing will be set up to analyze social media," he announced in the Assembly.

#AndhraPradesh- Chief Minister @ncbn takes a stand on Social Media trolling. ‘Respect women. Those who abuse, troll women or cause harm, strict action will be taken. A separate wing will be set up to analyse social media’ he announced in the assembly. pic.twitter.com/dm70CJBIT3

— NewsMeter (@NewsMeter_In) July 25, 2024

Cases against the majority of MLAs

In a funny yet serious conversation, Naidu asked those MLAs who had cases filed against them to stand up. Interestingly, almost everyone stood up detailing about cases filed against them by the YSRCP during its tenure.

Chief Minister made it clear that stringent action will be taken against anyone for creating a law and order situation and disturbing peace in the state. The state has witnessed a situation in the past five years when a criminal heads a party and becomes the chief minister, Chandrababu said.

According to Naidu, from 2014- 2019, murders came down by 15 percent in the State, kidnappings by 16 percent, physical attacks by 20 percent, lootings by 25 percent, and cases of harassment by 11 percent.

"In the past five years as many as 17 cases were registered against me. Except when I staged a dharna for Babli project for the people of Telangana in the combined state, there was no single case against me," Naidu said and recollected how cases were foisted against him after 2019.

The Chief Minister announced that reforms will be introduced in the entire police setup and awareness will be created among the people on new Criminal Laws. By utilizing the latest technology, drug, and ganja abuse will be controlled, he added.