Jagan dares Naidu with facts & figures

Says State flourished during 2004-14 Cong rule

• Naidu points to Jagan’s inexperience
• Says his statement will dampen Central aid

Hyderabad: Fireworks were witnessed in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly on Monday when it took up serious business in the form of discussion on motion of thanks to the Governor’s address.

In his maiden attempt to corner the state government, opposition leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy charged the government with making promises which cannot be implemented. He said the TDP was cheating the people with false promises. He wanted to know how the government intends to implement the loan waiver scheme which could cost around Rs 1.02 lakh crore rupees. In his attempt to counter the criticism of TDP that the state had witnessed tardy development during the last 10 years and that the wrong policies of the Congress government beginning with Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had ruined the economy and that the state resources were looted, Jagan quoted various parameters like GDP, GSDP and per capita income and claimed that the state’ economy had flourished during 2004-14.

He said the state had seen upward growth in all respects as compared to the period of TDP regime between 1994-2004.

Countering Jagan, Minister of Finance and Legislative Affairs Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the opposition leader was selectively quoting figures. He said a comprehensive study would indicate that there was no major change in the per capita income during the period which Jagan was quoting.

But Jagan continued with his jibes and claimed that the health of the state economy had taken a nosedive during Naidu’s regime. He also wanted to know how the TDP had arrived at the conclusion that the revenue deficit would be Rs 16,000 crore this financial year. Intervening, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that it was the Governor who had sent a report to the Centre after bifurcation that Andhra Pradesh state would have a revenue deficit of Rs 16,000 crore. He said Jagan was painting a rosy picture of the state’s economy which could hamper the efforts of the state government to get funds from the Centre. “This is the best of example of your inexperience”, he said.

Jagan alleged that Naidu who had promised jobs to all was now resorting to vindictive attitude and had issued orders to retrench the Adarsa rytu’s (Model farmers) who were appointed during the Congress regime.