Buggana should clarify on funds diversion: Pattabhi
Rare feat could be achieved only by Jagan Reddy
Tax and loan revenue diverted for YCP corruption
AMARAVATI: TDP National Spokesman K. Pattabhi Ram on Saturday demanded that Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy explain why Andhra Pradesh could stand in first place in the country in bringing loans and revenue deficit simultaneously in the first half of 2021-`22 financial year.
Pattabhi Ram said that AP revenue deficit stood at Rs. 33,140 Cr despite the fact that the Jagan Reddy regime brought massive loans of Rs. 39,933 Cr in the first six months. This was proof enough to say how the loans and tax revenue were being diverted for the corruption of the ruling YSRCP rather than for development works and welfare of the people.
Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader advised the Finance Minister to come and clarify to the people on the financial situation rather than sitting in Delhi to cause further harm to the State. The CAG asked for proper accounts as AP failed to give records for Rs. 41,000 Cr at one time and another Rs. 31,000 Cr. On the other hand, the Jagan regime did not spend money on Polavaram, Rayalaseema projects and other development works.
Pattabhi Ram said reports came in the national media on how revenue deficit increased by a whopping 662 percent in AP. The State Government projected a revenue deficit of Rs. 5,000 Cr in the budget for 12 months but the deficit touched Rs. 33,140 Cr in the first half itself. Rajendranath Reddy owed an explanation to the public on this. The Jagan regime was pushing AP closer towards financial bankruptcy with each passing day.
The TDP leader asked why the AP Government was not able to pay pending bills to suppliers of medical equipment, milk, eggs and meals when it was having huge revenue from taxes and loans. Alarmingly, the Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AIMED) gave a country-wide ‘red notice’ against the AP Government following its failure in making payments for the supplied products.
Pattabhi said that the AIMED asked its members not to supply medical devices to the AP Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIC) without getting 100 percent advance payments. By causing this, the Jagan regime put all the 5 crore people of AP to shame. The AP Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) had ordered notices to make the Government pay Rs. 25,000 Cr dues to the Discoms.
The TDP leader asked what the Jagan regime did with massive loans when it had not paid pending bills nor did it spend much on capital expenditure. It was pathetic that AP could not pay Rs. 130 Cr bills towards milk supplied to children. As a result, Karnataka had stopped milk supply. The AP Government had also defaulted in paying Rs. 110 Cr to suppliers who provided eggs to the anganwadis.
Pattabhi termed it as shocking that AP did not pay Rs. 30 Cr bills to contractors who supplied meals to Covid patients at the height of the pandemic. There were no timely salaries, no PRC and no DAs. Where was all the tax and loan money going? Reports were appearing that AP was fast slipping into the Venezuela-type worst economic crisis wherein the people went abegging in streets and hunger deaths became rampant.
