AP CM Naidu Compares Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to Pablo Escobar in Scathing Assembly Speech

In a fiery speech in the Andhra Pradesh state Assembly, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a scathing attack on his predecessor Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, likening him to the infamous Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar. Naidu’s remarks came while releasing a White Paper on law and order, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing political rivalry between the two leaders.

Naidu, reflecting on his extensive 40-year political career, stated that he had never encountered a politician like Jagan Reddy. He compared Reddy to Escobar, known for his violent narcotics operations and massive wealth accumulation.

“Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord and a narco-terrorist. He turned politician and then launched his cartel to sell drugs, amassing $30 billion at that time, which is now worth $90 billion,” Naidu said. He further detailed Escobar’s arrest in 1976, his rise to become the world’s richest drug lord by 1980, and his eventual killing by Colombian police in 1993.

Naidu’s comments were a response to a protest led by Jaganmohan Reddy and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Delhi, which highlighted what they described as a deteriorating law and order situation in Andhra Pradesh. The YSRCP has accused the TDP-led coalition government of orchestrating attacks on their leaders and cadres.

The Chief Minister went on to assert that Jagan Reddy’s ambition to surpass the wealth of industrial magnates Tata and Ambani demonstrated a dangerous level of greed. “That’s why I always say few have needs, few have greed, and few have mania. These maniacs can do anything,” Naidu remarked.

He urged the public to watch a series based on Escobar’s life to understand the parallels he drew. Naidu’s TDP leaders have frequently claimed that Andhra Pradesh became the drug capital of India during Jagan Reddy’s tenure.

Naidu’s dramatic comparison underscores the intense political strife in Andhra Pradesh, as both leaders continue to battle for influence and public support.