* Defame Jagan, TDP boss tells acolytes

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is apparently rattled by the Sakshi expose of illegal lands acquired under benami names by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leadership and party workers in the AP Capital area.

At the State Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, he told the State ministers that a formal investigation into the land acquisition for the capital city of Amaravati will expose the government and adversely affect the fortunes of TDP. It maybe recalled that Sakshi newspaper had filed a report titled 'Rajadhani Durakramana' in its Wednesday edition. Referring to that report, the Chief Minister reportedly said that this is quite damning asked the ministers to launch an all out media campaign against the Sakshi Media Group.

The expose has severely dented the credibility of the TDP, he said and wondered aloud in the meeting how will they now face the farmers. Land acquisition in other districts of Andhra Pradesh will also be impacted, Babu told the attendees at the meeting in which his Lokesh too was present. The news report also had details about illegal land acquisition by the Lokesh besides those of ministers considered close to the Chief Minister.

Counter Attack: Faced with an unenviable situation, the Chief Minister suggested counter attack on the media group to divert public attention on the issue. Some of the ministers suggested filing cases on the Sakshi group on behalf of the government. However, Babu is known to have said that the move will expose more details about activities undertaken in the guise of new capital. He suggested to the ministers to file individual cases ranging from defamation and civil to criminal cases.

Jagan is Fueling Unrest: Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) leader Mandha Krishna had announced their plans to start agitations on March 10. The Chief Minister chided the ministers about how they failed to see a political angle in two separate agitations on the same day. He told them to convince the people that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is fueling unrest and encouraging the agitations.