AP all set to give `300-cr relief to AgriGold victims

 Vijayawada: The state government is all set to distribute Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore among the depositors of AgriGold, AP Planning Board vice-chairman C Kutumba Rao said here on Thursday.

Speaking to the mediapersons, Rao said that helping the victims will start from this month end. Already, the government has paid Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of those who died unable to overcome grief of losing their lifetime savings.

Rao said the state government was committed to helping the depositors by working out ways to do justice to them under the supervision of the High Court. In the wake of the division of the High Court, the process might be slightly delayed, but it would be done as soon as possible.

He said that though the case against AgriGold was filed in Hyderabad, it was being dealt by the AP High Court since most of the victims were from AP.

Rao said that preparations were going on to attach the remaining properties of AgriGold in addition to the properties that the High Court had already attached.

Taking potshots at YSRC chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Rao said the Opposition party was trying to benefit politically by provoking the victims against the state government at a time when the state was doing everything in its capacity to go to their rescue.

"A group of ministers held talks with the victims who staged a dharna recently and efforts are on to resolve the issue," Rao said and wanted to know why Jagan Mohan Reddy shouldn’t acquire the properties himself and thus help the victims. 

"Jagan who is the wealthiest politician in India could easily acquire the property. Compared to his stake in Bharati Cements and Jagati Publications, the value of the AgriGold properties is very small," he said.