CM, Jagan join issue over EVM thief in Fibre project

The fibre grid in Andhra Pradesh was the bone of contention between Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday. The Chief Minister explained that the fibre project was for multiple uses. It would be giving internet, cable TV and telephone facility for a mere Rs 149 per house. With this, Andhra Pradesh would beat all States in the matter of development, he claimed. Within 3 years, the project would be implented all over the state. By April-end, Visakhapatnam, vizianagaram and Srikakulam would have the fibre facility, he added. Giving a counter-argument, the YCP leader said there was a large-scale misappropriation in the fibre project. The poject was a virtual gift to a relative of Chandrababu Naidu. He alleged that the Fibre, to whom Chandrababu had offered the project, was actually charged with stealing an electronic voting machine in Maharashtra. In fact, a case was filed against the person in Maharashtra. He was angry that the same person was posing as an entrepreneur in AP. This enraged the Chief Minister no end. He asked, would anyone steal an EVM? In fact, it was to prove the irregularities in EVMs that it was taken by the person concerned. He was doing a great service to society. That was why he had taken the EVM. Jagan had committed scams and gone to jail, he added. There was no misappropriation at all in the fibre project, the Chief Minister added.