Sakshi cartoon on Babu

On a day when all newspapers make the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on land allotments in the state as banner story, Sakshi has its counter report with a screaming headline on Chandrababu Naidu.

CAG report said that most of the land allotments during YSR rule were improper and against the interests of the government. These relate to lands allotted to Brahmani Steels of Gali Janardhana Reddy, Indu Projects, Aurobindo, Gimpex etc, causing a loss of Rs 1775 crore to the exchequer.

However, for Sakshi daily, the banner story was different. It is about how Chandrababu leased out government lands left and right. In fact, according to Sakshi, Babu was the man who gave hundreds of acres to Penna Cements and India Cements.

It may be recalled that both Penna and India Cements are under investigation by the CBI, because they were suspected of investing crores of rupees in Jagan’s companies in lieu of the benefits accrued to them during YSR period.

Sakshi turned the whole issue topsy turvy, alleging that Chandrababu also leased out lands to these companies. Sakshi questioned as to why CBI was not investigating into these ‘scams’.

Saskhi’s story means either of two things. Jagan really benefited from the deals during YSR rule. Only issue is that Chandrababu also got benefited because he also gave away lands.

The second inference could be that if Chandrababu did not receive any money, how could Jagan take money for the same kind of gesture.

Only problem is that these companies does not seem to have invested in Chandrababu companies including Heritage, while they did invest in Jagan’s companies!