Andhra CM Draws Controversy by Comparing Jagan Reddy to Pablo Escobar Over Ganja Menace

Amaravati July 25 2024 : In a fiery session of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stirred controversy by likening YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Naidu’s remarks came as he criticized the state’s law and order situation under the current regime and alleged rampant drug issues over the past five years.

During the Assembly session on Thursday, Naidu released a white paper detailing concerns over law and order and the prevalence of ganja (marijuana) in the state. “Only one person can be compared to what happened in Andhra, and it is Pablo Escobar,” Naidu declared, directly referencing the drug menace issue.

Drawing parallels to Escobar’s notorious activities, Naidu accused the YSRCP government of allowing Andhra Pradesh to become a hub for illegal ganja trade during their tenure from 2019 to 2024. He labeled Escobar as a “narco-terrorist” and pointed out similarities in the alleged situation under the current administration, where ganja was reportedly freely available.

The comparison to Escobar, who was infamous for his role as a drug lord in Colombia during the 1980s and 1990s, has ignited a heated debate both within and outside the Assembly. Naidu’s remarks have been met with strong reactions from political circles, with supporters of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condemning the comparison as unwarranted and defamatory.

Addressing concerns raised in the white paper, Naidu pledged to crack down on the alleged drug menace and restore law and order in the state. The controversial statement has added fuel to the ongoing political rivalry between Naidu’s TDP and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP ahead of the upcoming elections in Andhra Pradesh.