Naidu Likens Jagan Mohan Reddy to Pablo Escobar in Fiery Assembly Speech

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu sparked controversy on Thursday by comparing former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to the infamous Colombian narco-terrorist, Pablo Escobar. During a heated assembly session, Naidu released a white paper accusing Reddy of turning Andhra Pradesh into a “Ganja capital” and claimed the state faced unprecedented law-and-order issues under his tenure.

“There was only one person who can compare to what happened in Andhra, drug lord Pablo Escobar,” Naidu asserted, referencing India Today. He elaborated on Escobar’s notorious history as a drug lord turned politician, highlighting his amassed wealth and criminal exploits. Naidu suggested Reddy harbored similar ambitions, aiming to surpass the wealth of industrial giants like Tata and Reliance.

“Pablo Escobar was a Colombian drug lord, he was a narco-terrorist. He turned politician and then started his cartel to sell drugs. He earned 30 billion Dollars at that time. He was arrested in 1976 and in 1980 he became the number one richest drug lord in the world. One can become richer by selling drugs as well. What was the aim of the former chief minister (YS Jagan)? Tata, Reliance, and the Ambanis have money. He wanted to become richer than them. Few have needs, few have greed and few have mania and these maniacs do these kinds of things,” he said, per ANI.

Naidu further alleged that during Reddy’s rule, Ganja was readily available in every village, exacerbating the state’s drug problem. He assured the assembly that his government is committed to addressing and controlling the issue.

Pablo Escobar, who was killed by Colombian special forces in 1993, remains a symbol of the devastating impact of drug cartels. Naidu’s comparison has ignited debate and heightened political tensions in Andhra Pradesh.