Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is to attend as chief guest for laying the foundation for AP's new capital Amaravati on October 22, is reportedly serious on 'lavish spending' by AP government on the ceremony despite the state facing severe financial crunch.
The Prime Minister’s Office is said to have dashed off a letter to AP government to clarify immediately on media reports stating that the AP government was spending over Rs 400 crore for a single day event.
It also sought to know what is the difference between ‘bhoomi pooja’ and ‘shankhusthapana” (foundation laying ) since AP Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu already conducted bhoomi pooja for Amaravati on June 6 and why foundation is being laid again now by spending crores of rupees.
The PMO asked AP government to clarity all these things in written immediately so that the PM will take a call on whether to take part in such a programme or not.
The PMO is also said to be serious over AP government inviting Prime ministers of Singapore and Japan for the ceremony in violation of protocol norms.
According to sources, some BJP leaders, including from AP including union minister Venkaiah Naidu felt extravagance with tax-payers’ money would send a wrong signal to the Prime Minister at a time when state is making all-out efforts to get more funds from the Centre and brought this issue to the notice of Modi.
AP government is now struggling to clarify on the expenditure and reportedly asked officials to ensure that expenditure does not cross Rs 10 crore at least on the paper to be sent to PMO.
