Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu lashed out at the YSRCP government on Monday, holding the latter responsible for the World Bank dropping funds worth 300 million USD earmarked for the Amaravati project. Naidu alleged that the YSRCP had been against the project from the beginning, and had sent multiple complaints to the World Bank, magnifying ‘non-existent problems’.
He said that after petitions to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) were dismissed, and the High Court didn’t pass a stay order, the YSRCP wrote to the World Bank continuously. “They filed repeated petitions, involved NGOs, created fear and insecurity among the people. They spread misinformation about social, environmental and financial effects,” he said.
“They (World Bank) said they will come for detailed personal inspection because of your (YSRCP’s) complaints,” Naidu said. He also said that the Government of India had asked the YSRCP government to tell them what to do about the World Bank’s probe, asking them to respond by July 15. “They (YSRCP) said that they are also still inquiring, so they (GoI) assumed there was no interest and cancelled it. Now the YSRCP is blaming us for the loss,” said Naidu.
Naidu said that the World Bank and AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) were giving loans at a nominal interest and over long gestation periods.
Refuting allegations of corruption in the Amaravati project, Naidu said that neither the World Bank teams that had conducted previous investigations nor the Indian government had said anything about corruption. “The YSRCP is trying to rub their reputation for corruption on us,” he added.
Naidu also insisted that having capital was essential for any state, “not just for administration, but for jobs, wealth creation and social life, to develop as a dynamic city and become a basis for the state,” he said.
“In any country, urban areas and big cities generate more revenue, because of social life, logistics and knowledge; because that purchasing capacity increases and state earns revenue,” he added.
With the YSRCP coming to power, Naidu claimed that land prices had fallen, and farmers are likely to suffer losses.
Stating that the ruling government does not have any affection or respect towards the project, he added, “They are still calling Amaravati as Bhramaravati (Land of illusions) and mocking us.”
Stating that Amaravati did not need much expenditure from the state government to continue, and major work in Polavaram was also done, he added that the government is now deliberately stalling both the projects.
“They are very eager to give water to Telangana but are not concerned about Andhra. Akkada muddu ikkada vaddu (kisses for them but nothing for us),” Naidu said.
Accepting that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government might have made some mistakes during their rule, Naidu added, “but they should also try to correct them.”
He also complained about not being allowed to talk about the issue in the Assembly on Monday. “He passed the mic to Rajendranath Reddy (Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister) instead of responding. They brought up the bills (50% reservations for SC ST BC and Minorities in nominated positions and contracts, 75% reservation for locals in industries, 50% reservation for women in government nominated posts) at the exact time when we wanted to discuss this issue, and said we were against the bills and ran away from the Assembly,” Naidu said.
Claiming that the YSRCP was destroying the capital project, Naidu asked, “One person’s incompetence is destroying the state, and as a senior politician and Leader of Opposition, I have to defend and fight,” he said.