When our house is facing a financial crisis, what do we do? Do we go on a spending spree or do we exercise extreme restraint in our expenses, spending only where necessary?
The TDP has been crying itself hoarse that the State is facing a massive revenue-deficit after bifurcation and the situation has been exacerbated by lack of assistance from the Centre.
In that case, don’t the elected representatives have a further onus on them to lead from the front and set an example by saving the tax -payers’ money wherever possible?
Unfortunately, this principle does not seem to apply to our Honourable Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his colleagues.
When any sensible person would focus on the existing cities and develop the infrastructure there, this gentleman has taken it upon himself to build a new capital entirely from scratch merely because his community has a lot of stake in terms of real-estate in the selected region.
Allegations are also there that the black money hoarded by the TDP in Singapore and other countries is finding its way back into the country in the form of investments in Amaravati.
Then, there is the case of Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Honourable Minister for Finance and Planning, Commercial Taxes and Legislative Affairs who used Rs 2.8 lakh for root-canal surgery in Singapore when the same back home in India would not cost more than Rs 10,000.
Is this responsible behaviour on the part of a ‘finance minister’?
If this is his judgement regarding people’s money at a time like this, is he then worthy of handling such an important portfolio like finance and planning? How can he be trusted as a custodian of the people’s money?
What kind of planning can he provide for the State?
There’s a famous proverb regarding fiscal management: “Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.”
Sadly, our TDP people do not seem to be aware of this precept. They are coming out with cock-and-bull explanations for the same and they have the yellow media to convert such irresponsible behaviour into a saintly act.
Written By Kiran Sharma
