Even as Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said there was no need for the state to show accounts for the funds released by the Centre for various schemes, the Bharatiya Janata Party has come with a strong allegation that Naidu government had in fact diverted Rs 16,000 crore central funds to other purposes.
Firebrand BJP MLC Somu Veerraju on Saturday asked Naidu to explain what his government had done with the Rs 16,000 crore given by the Central Government under various heads. The state diverted the money to pay the loan waiver amounts and other fancy schemes.
“For example, the Centre has released Rs 1050 crore for the backward districts of north coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema as promised in the AP Reorganisation Act in the last three years. What development works have Naidu taken up in these districts? Can Naidu show accounts for the same?” he asked.
Ridiculing the TDP leaders’ claim that the Centre has meted a raw deal to the State, Veerraju dared Naidu to explain as to what amounts were pending with the Centre.
He said the Centre has given more than the rightful share to Andhra Pradesh and Naidu had time and again said that he was happy with the allocations.
“Now, strangely, he has changed his tune,” the BJP leader said.
He said the TDP was afraid that the BJP would become a powerful political force in Andhra Pradesh and was hence trying to launch a vilification campaign.
He said that there was time till 2022 for the implementation of the AP Bifurcation Act and that 60 per cent of the works have already been completed.
