Former Minister, YCP leader Amarnath Condemns CM’s Remarks on Rushikonda

Hyderabad: Strongly condemning the remarks of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the tourism project at Rushikonda, former minister Gudivada Amarnath said its time the ruling dispensation focusses on serious issues instead of coming in circles to criticise the previous government.

Speaking to media, the former minister said, Chandrababu Naidu was trying to project that Rushikonda buildings were constructed for YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and giving an impression that it was our leader’s personal property, is highly condemnable. In the tour programme of Chandrababu Naidu it was mentioned that he would be visiting the tourism buildings at Rushikonda which shows that the government has acknowledged the purpose for which the buildings were constructed.

After his tour of the building, the Chief Minister’s remarks were highly objectionable and if he intends to throw open the buildings for public view, he should also put on display the temporary structures of the State Secretariat, Assembly and other temporary structures built at an exorbitant cost by Chandrababu Naidu which are substandard and water pours in when it rains. The contrast should be seen by people to understand the mind-set of the two chief ministers, he said adding that huge amounts were spent by the TDP chief for his many houses which he shifted during his previous term as chief minister.

Vizag has no proper facility for the stay of VVIPs and captains of industries, which was the reason why the tourism project was taken up. Chandrababu should say and think in terms of how best to make use of the buildings instead of brooding over the subject, he said.

We don’t know whether it’s the intolerance of giving credit to us for building such an attractive edifice or but trying to project as if it was built for YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence is mischievous.

“The tourism project was opened by the then minister RK Roja and I was in attendance,” Amarnath said and added, “When the three-member committee suggested that the structure would be suitable for Chief Minister’s Office, security measures were put in place as three capitals was our policy.”

Even six months after assuming office the Chief Minster is still harping on the singular point of criticising YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, setting aside the pressing issues of the State. Naidu has boasted of Super Six promises but not even a single was fulfilled. The Deepam scheme is flickering as nowhere the beneficiaries would be asked to pay first in anticipation of reimbursement.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has implemented all the welfare schemes without any riders even during the pandemic disbursing about 2.75 lakh crore. Issues like sand, free bus travel, Talliki Vandanm are still pending and liquor is overflowing. One could see banners of discount sale at liquor shops, he said.

The Vizag Steel Plant is a burning issue and if Chandrababu Naidu is serious to solve, he is in a position to hard bargain with the Centre as his Party has the numerical strength to tilt the balance of NDA government, while we could not do that in the previous term despite having numbers as the ruling party at Centre had majority on its own. September salaries were not paid and many short cuts are being used to cut down the VSP staff.

Filling up the potholes is a welcome sign, but digging up potholes to fill them for publicity has been order of the day, he said and asked the government to focus on burning issues instead of resorting to cheap publicity gimmicks.

Along with the Rushikonda buildings, public should also be shown the Uddanam Kidney Research Centre, medical college, airport, Inorbit Mall and other structures that have come up during our period in contrast to the leaking and breaking structures built by TDP, Amarnath reiterated.