CBN’s Financial Report in Trouble

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has rejected the White Paper presented by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and termed it a document with "no substance" and "misleading", which fits into the pattern of "self-promotion", deriding the previous merits.

Speaking to the media in Hyderabad on Saturday, former Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath said, "The bulky document presented by Chandrababu -- at no place does it mention revenues and the bluff is called when the claim of high growth rate does not concur with the falling state revenue."

He said that Chief Minister Chandrababu calling deficit "a myth" is "not only ridiculous but highly irresponsible".

"The paradox is in the fact that he who boasted of wealth creation is not talking about revenue in the entire document," he said.

The former Minister asserted that the basic "flaw" begins in the fact that the state finances were in ebb only during 2019-24 while it was rosy in 2014-19 and is back to a healthy economy during the past two years.

"The progress need not be self-evaluated, but any stakeholder would give a clear picture. Ask farmers if they are getting MSP, women if they are getting Adabidda Nidhi, pensions, free cylinders, Talliki Vandanam, youth if they are getting unemployment stipend, students if they are getting fee reimbursement and other sections if they are getting their welfare schemes; they will evaluate the governance," Rajendranath said.

"The growing popularity of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with people thronging to all his meetings are a clear indication that they were better off during the previous government, which is the true progress report and not the fabricated document or the elevation Chandrababu's friendly media is giving, stating that only he is the person who is taking the State from stone age to quantum era," he added.

The YSRCP leader claimed that the Chief Minister made tall claims about the state's borrowings, but the figure shown in his own document was scaled down, and if the outstanding loans were deducted, it would further reduce.

"Time and again we have to come to rubbish his false claims and fudged figures," he said.

Rajendranath stated that while Andhra Pradesh has a "negative growth" in terms of revenue, how can the state government claim an 11 per cent GSDP growth rate? He affirmed that the YSRCP government "performed well" in terms of per capita income and revenue deficit as well.

The former Finance Minister also asserted that none of the TDP's 'Super Six promises' were fulfilled other than the "copycat schemes" which were deflated to suit their agenda.

"The claims of investments and job creation of the coalition government were blown out in Parliament during Question Hour when P. Mithun Reddy was told that of the 10 proposals only two were cleared. On the other hand, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has created 1.35 lakh jobs in village and ward secretariats, has set up village clinics, ports, shipping harbours, fish landing centres besides fulfilling all poll promises and developing schools under Nadu-Nedu," he said.

Rajendranath claimed that it took two years for the YSRCP government to undo the "damage" done to Polavaram and it was Jagan Mohan Reddy who brought funds for the project.

"Chandrababu, who promised wealth creation, has given away prime land at throwaway prices and has been pumping money into Amaravati, paying contractors exorbitant rates. He has been privatising ports and medical colleges which are useful for common people and taking steps to benefit the rich," he said.

"The brand image of the State took a fall under his leadership while it had seen better days during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's term," the YSRCP leader added.