The news that AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released a letter to the Apollo Hospitals to take care of the treatment of Mahesh Kathi, the critic and film actor who was badly injured in a road accident, has turned the heads of many groups on social media.
Some are calling it a humanitarian gesture while some are questioning how can the tax payers money can be spent on a guy who met with road accident without following safety rules. Some are going to the extent of branding it as anti-Hindu and pro-YSRCP thing.
Let us see what are the bouquets and brickbats on this topic today.
Brickbat: A netizen wrote, “I do feel sorry for his deadly accident but giving tax payers money is extremely irresponsible and he is not even a resident of the state ... TG state itself is not caring for him and AP State goes ahead and sanctions tax payers money just for good will!?”
Bouquet: This was answered on another platform by another netizen, “Mahesh Kathi is not a Telangana guy. He is from Chittoor District- Andhra Pradesh. He voted in Andhra Pradesh during the last general elections. He also anticipated to become an MLC in AP. Taxpayers money is used for giving ex gratia for the deceased in road mishaps, be it in private or public vehicles. I welcome AP CM’s gesture”.
Brickbat: A netizen wrote, “If the one who spoke bad about Lord Rama was given this much, how much will be given to those who broke the idols of Hindu gods?”
Bouquet: Similar question was answered on facebook by someone like this- “Mahesh Kathi spoke about Lord Rama what Muppalla Ranganayakamma wrote in Ramayana Vishavrusksham. But since Mahesh Kathi pulled the attention and wrath of Hindu outfits in bigger way, he was punished with state boycott by respective governments in the name of preventing communal disharmony. But the governments had no guts to do the same to Akbaruddin Owaisi who uttered more blasphemous lines on the same Hindu god. Besides, the idols were broken by some TDP leaders and there was a police complaint registered on this in Rajahmundry as well on the confession of a temple priest. So, extending medical aid to Mahesh Kathi is a welcoming gesture”.
Brickbat: A reader wrote - “Why Government has to donate taxpayers’ money to a person who didn't follow the road safety rules? Moreover he is the owner of an Innova car.. Is he an economically back ward? If YS Jagan feels he is useful to his party, why couldn’t he pay from his party fund?
Bouquet: The car doesn’t belong to Mahesh Kathi. Irrespective of one follows safety rules or not, every accident victim gets ex gratia from the government after the death and also the medical support for those who need treatment, provided if the appeal is made through proper government channel. This happens through CM Relief Fund in general. Mahesh Kathi is also one among such citizens and he deserves this support from the government.
Brickbat: A netizen questioned - “How can CM use the Relief Fund on his whims and fancies?”
Bouquet: Another netizen answered - “It was called CM Relief Fund only because the CM can spend as per his discretion. There is no legal hassle here if the CM likes someone and spends on that person’s medical needs from this account. If anybody believes that CM gives support only to the ones he likes and if anyone wishes such aid from this Relief Fund, try to be in the good books of the CM (whatever the party be and whoever the CM be)”.
Disclaimer: All the above comments and counters are either directly mentioned or translated from different posts on various social media platforms. This is only a compilation and greatandhra.com doesn't own any line in this article.
