Indian Politician Accused Of Running Illegal Casino By The BJP

Summary

• BJP party accuses opposition leader of running illegal casino
• Accused leader says false allegations being hurled against him
• Threatens to light himself on fire if the allegations are found to be true

The southern state of Andhra Pradesh has a strict no gambling policy. Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has taken an anti-gambling stance and pushed to stamp out all illegal gambling activity in the state, whether it be illegal gambling parlours or offshore casinos.

The opposition party to the ruling government, the BJP stirred up controversy in the state when they alleged that Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao, a minister in the ruling YSRC government was running an illegal casino in his convention center. The views of the BJP were also supposed by another opposition party in the state TDP.

They said Rao was using his K Convention hall to run an illegal casino and was letting crores of rupees flow through this illegal gambling operation while the ruling government was deliberately turning a blind eye to his activities, even though they campaign publically against gambling activities.

The BJP party lashed out at the police in Andhra Pradesh for doing nothing and letting this illegal indian casino flourish under their noses. They also called out the CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for overlooking the criminal offenses of his minister Venkateswara Rao.

Rao Promises To Self Immolate If Accusations Are True

The allegations from the BJP and TDP did not go down well with Venkateswara Rao. He denied all of the allegations and called it a smear campaign by the opposition party. He became rather emotional when talking to the media and said that if the opposition parties could prove that he had any deals with an illegal casino at his convention hall, he would take drastic measures.

He went on record to state if they could prove their allegations against him, then he would not only resign from the YSRC party but that he would also set himself on fire and kill himself for breaching his parties trust.

It is hard to tell if Rao is being emotional or serious with his response to the allegations. The CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is yet to make a statement on these allegations and as of now no investigation into the matter has been launched.