Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy (L) and N Chandrababu Naidu (R).
Credit: PTI, Reuters File Photos
Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy lashed out at the TDP coalition government stating that it is riddled with corruption and scams, and dubbed it a "looting and sharing" administration. He highlighted the government's failure to fulfill promises, issues with sand policy, and corruption in flood relief funds.
He condemned the government's manipulation of the liquor distribution and the Skill Development Scam. He also called for transparency in elections, demanding the counting of VVPAT slips to protect democratic values.
Speaking to the media at the party's central office on Friday, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy slammed the TDP coalition government for failing to present a full budget despite being in power for five months, continuing instead with a vote-on-account budget.
He highlighted that there has been widespread corruption, particularly in sectors like sand, liquor, gambling, and mining, where bribes are rampant, he alleged. Jagan stated that the government has neglected its promises and allowed scams to dominate post-election, leaving the state in a poor condition.
Jagan criticized Chandrababu Naidu and the coalition leaders for their mismanagement of sand prices in the state. He pointed out that before the elections, they complained about high sand prices, but under the current government, the cost of sand has drastically increased, ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000 per truckload across different constituencies. He stated that the TDP coalition exploited sand resources through corrupt tender practices, allowing only two days for bids during a festival, which he described as highly irregular.
He also stated that Naidu brought the new liquor policy to benefit private distilleries, allowing mafias to control liquor sales by shutting down government-run shops. He highlighted that his government reduced alcohol consumption by reducing the number of liquor shops and raising prices, all while increasing revenue. He also warned that Naidu’s promise of liquor worth Rs 99 was misleading, as it would result in poor-quality alcohol that could seriously harm public health.
Speaking about the Skill Development scam, Jagan said that Chandrababu Naidu is accused of approving Rs 371 crore for a Skill Development programme, which was diverted through shell companies and despite ED attaching assets worth Rs 54.74 crore and naming Naidu in the scam, he falsely claimed that he received a clean chit. The scam also implicates key individuals, he said, claiming that Siemens' internal investigation confirmed the fraud, with evidence showing that funds were misused. Despite clear proof, Naidu and his media allies continue to spread misinformation, attempting to cover up his involvement in this significant financial scandal, he added.
Y S Jagan flayed thevTDP government for mismanaging flood relief funds, questioning the alleged expenditure of Rs 368 crore for feeding one crore people and the existence of relief camps. He highlighted the media as witnesses, expressing doubts about the actual number of people in these camps. Reddy also raised concerns over the Rs 23 crore reportedly spent on candles, matchboxes, and mobile generators, questioning their use when people were stranded in water. He suggested that these relief efforts were part of a larger scam orchestrated by the government.
In response to media questions, Jagan Mohan Reddy remarked that filing cases and arresting YSRCP leaders to intimidate party workers will not weaken the party. He criticized the government for ignoring public concerns, especially regarding the liquor mafia and sand scams, which he said, were occurring in plain sight. He warned that if this continued, the ruling TDP government under Chandrababu Naidu could face severe consequences, with the possibility of not even securing a single-digit seat count in future elections.
Jagan also questioned why the Election Commission was not matching EVMs with VV-PATs in Ongole, despite the YSRCP having paid for the verification. He noted that even countries like the US use paper ballots for transparency and democracy to not only exist, but also be seen to exist.