Pawan takes up cudgels for AgriGold scam victims

Vijayawada: Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan demanded the government to announce the list of AgriGold properties and take measures to ensure speedy justice to the 32 lakh victims. He also asked the government to release Rs 1,180 crore immediately to bail out small depositors and said most of the AgriGold depositors are common and poor people and badly need justice from the state government.

The actor-turned-politician addressed the AgriGold depositors and agents at the Tummalapalli Kalakshetram on Thursday. The AgriGold customers and Agents welfare Association conducted the meeting and invited Pawan Kalyan to address the meeting.

Tight security posted at the auditorium as hundreds of fans gathered near Tummalapalli Kalakshetram to have a glimpse of their favourite hero. The organisers distributed wrist bands in advance selectively to AgriGold customers and agents to enter the Tummalapalli Kalakshetram.

Expressing his solidarity to the AgriGold victims, Pawan announced that he is ready to work with Left parties to get justice to the lakhs of customers and agents. ‘I have respect for the Left parties for their struggle on peoples’s woes and I will work with them to bail out AgriGold victims’, he added.

He said the local police and district administration should take measures to protect the AgriGold agents, who are facing attacks from the customers. Jana Sena chief has alleged that negligent attitude of the government is responsible for the suicides of the AgriGold customers and agents. He said had if the government has reacted to the cheque bounce cases two years ago, the suicide cases should not taken place in the state. Pawan alleged the government turned a blind eye to the cheque bounce cases which resulted in the suicides of the victims. He urged the government to announce the list of properties belonging to AgriGold company.

He said the tainted company has more assets than liabilities and depositors would get their deposits if the properties are sold and questioned the slow pace of investigation. Jana Sena chief said 1,40,000 AgriGold agents have not done anything wrong and questioned what these agents can do if company cheats the customers and agents.

He reminded that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had paid Rs 5,000 to each customer in advance in case of Sarada chits scam but such activity is not taking place in Andhra Pradesh. He suggested that a Task Force should be set up to investigate the case in seven states to ensure speedy justice for lakhs of victims.

He said the local police and district administration should take measures to protect the AgriGold agents, who are facing attacks from the customers. He said the successive governments have weakened the bureaucracy and administration in the state and its impact is visible now in the AgriGold case.

Later, the AgriGold customers and agents Association honorary president Muppalla Nageswara Rao explained the problems faced by lakhs of AgriGold customers in seven states including two Telugu states. Earlier, some AgriGold customers and agents narrated their woes and asked Pawan Kalyan to help them get back their hard-earned money.