Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu with his grandiose plans for the new capital of the State is creating an island of prosperity in an ocean of poverty, Congress MLC C. Ramachandraiah said.
"We are not against the CM planning for a capital that would be future ready, but it cannot be at the cost of so many farmers and their crops. Such a grand capital would only accentuate the income disparities in the region and create more issues," he said addressing media along with Congress leader Bolisetty Satyanarayana here on Thursday.
While highlighting the financial crunch in the State, the Chief Minister is not exhibiting financial prudence. Where is the need for him to travel by chartered flights, what is the necessity for renovating his office three times that too when it is for a limited period, he asked. The Chief Minister by conducting meetings outside Hyderabad is causing a drain on the Exchequer with the cost of travel and stay for all the officials and ministers. Why the taxpayer should be burdened with such wasteful expenditure of the State Government he asked.
The NDA Government at the Centre and in the State have failed to get the special status sanctioned for the State. The excuses being offered by Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu do not hold water. There was a precedent of Himachal Pradesh being granted the status based on a letter from the then Chief Minister, it was later ratified by the NDC, Mr.Ramachandraiah recalled.
A meeting is being organised in Vijayawada on March 5 to oppose the forceful eviction of farmers for the proposed state capital, Mr.Bolisetty Satyanarayana said. A large number of leaders of people’s movements like Anna Hazare would attend the meeting, he added.
