YSRCP says that the TDP is spending Rs 400 crore for the foundation ceremony. The TDP denies this and says that it will be spending only Rs 10 crore.
Have a look at some of the arrangements: 15 helicopters have been hired to fly the VIPs from Shamshabad airport in Hyderabad and Gannavaram airport in Vijayawada to the venue in Amaravati.
Eight helipads have been set up at the venue also. Over 20 special flights have been blocked for the dignitaries from Singapore and Japan.
Deputy CM Chinna Rajappa says, “I agree it takes hundreds of crores of rupees, but the government has appealed to private firms for chipping in. We will know about the exact amount spent only after the event.”
Similarly, Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony was also a lavish affair. Instead of spending Rs 400 crore for the event, cannot the government spend around a fraction of it and use the remaining amount to fulfill at least one of its pre-poll promises, such as loan waiver for DWCRA group or unemployment fund for the jobless youth?
TDP supporters argue that such lavishness is necessary to attract investments from foreigners and MNC’s. Rubbish!
Companies invest on the basis of sops and incentives made available to them and not on the basis of lavishness of such functions.
More importantly, they look at the credibility of the ruling dispensations. Have Chennai or Bangalore ever splurged in this way to attract investments?
