Naidu aide ridicules ‘insider’ charges

Vijayawada: While the State Government launched a frontal attack against the opposition by levelling charges of insider trading during the construction of capital city, the TDP has plunged into a damage-control exercise, a day later. Interestingly, while former Ministers Prathipati Pulla Rao and Dr P Narayana were silent, close aide of TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu and mentor of Nara Lokesh, Dr Ravi Vemuru has responded sharply to the allegations.

Dr Ravi has offered to hand over all lands to support the cause of the Government, in case it proves that they were purchased through the ‘insider trading’.

Dr Vemuru, a former boss of AP Non Resident Telugu (APNRT) Association, told NewsMeter that he is ready to donate his lands if the charges against them were proved. He would gift to government’s pet scheme-Navaratnalu.

“I Know that the government is facing a financial crunch, hence I have decided to handover all my lands to support Navaratnalu, provided the Government should prove that I have purchased them through insider trading,” Dr Ravi said in an open challenge to Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath.

While dismissing the allegations that he has purchased 25.68 acres in the Capital area, by resorting to such low measures, Dr Vemuru said that he has purchased 6.30 acres, some 15 years ago, in the Amaravati area.

“After the announcement of Capital, in 2015, I have purchased 9.86 acres. Our family’s total assets are 16.16 acres, and among those lands, six acres fall out of the ambit of the Capital region,” Dr Vemuru clarified.

Dr Ravi Vemuru also stated that the companies, in which he has 10 percent stake, purchased lands only after the announcement of the Capital Amaravati. “if the government is ready to prove that I have a business understanding with Nara Lokesh, I will give away all those business firms to the government, Dr Vemuru said.