Following a tip-off, over hundred personnel from the AP Police raided poker camps organized at Tarimisa village in Nandivada mandal of Krishna district’s Gudivada constituency and arrested 62 people. It is learnt that CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy has taken the issue of poker camps being held on a large scale in the Gudivada MLA’s constituency very seriously. As a result, Minister Kodali Nani was immediately summoned to CM’s Tadepalli residence. The sudden development led to Minister Nani cancel the distribution of house deeds and head straight to meet the CM. However, the Gudivada MLA post-meet with the CM interacting with the media at the location tried to defend himself.
Is poker punishable by death?
Will my followers be hanged if they play poker? Minister Kodali Nani questioned reporters at CM’s camp office in Tadepalli, adding that a case would be filed for playing poker. However, the Minister’s remarks that after paying fine in Court they will play again has turned sensational and drew immense flak. Even public associations have condemned the Minister for making such irresponsible statements. The Gudivada MLA even went on to say no one can stop poker from being played and that if a particular camp is raided then another camp would be set up in a new place.
Following criticism by Pawan Kalyan
Speculations among political circles is that CM Jaganmohan Reddy fears that Minister Kodali Nani’s remarks may cause disrepute to the YSRCP government. Now, the police raids on poker camps close to Gudivada were held just a week after JanaSena Party Chief Pawan Kalyan had strongly criticized the YSRCP MLAs for organizing poker camps in every constituency. However, it is argued that the issue is not limited to just Gudivada constituency, but that poker camps are being held in all districts.
