There are about 148 cold storages in the Guntur region. According to a source, an MLA from this area has been demanding Rs 2 lakh per month from each cold storage owner. This form of extortion is reportedly non-negotiable.
Ironically, he collects this money across the entire Guntur region, even outside his own constituency.
Additionally, he demands the same amount from every cold storage owner, regardless of their political allegiance to either the YCP or TDP.
A cold storage owner aligned with the TDP commented, "This is unscrupulous. When asked how he could demand such a sum from TDP supporters, the MLA replied that if he exempted one person, everyone would demand the same, which wouldn’t be feasible. So, what is this all about? When we considered escalating this issue to top TDP leaders, the MLA showed no concern and warned of severe consequences."
Some TDP supporters say that while the previous government disappointed them over five years, the current administration is causing frustration within just a few months.
If true, it seems the MLA is targeting a sum of Rs 3 crore per month solely by collecting Rs 2 lakh from each cold storage.