Finance Minister Slams Opposition Over Misleading Information

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Buggana Ranjendranath on Wednesday lashed out at Opposition leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Yanamala Ramakrishnudu. The Minister termed the opposition party leaders' comments as ‘mischief’ while briefing on the misleading information being publicised by them.

As per the India Innovative Index, Andhra Pradesh has secured the 10th rank. ‘Yenamala Ramakrishnudu says that Andhra Pradesh has been fallen to the tenth rank. This ranking has been given for the first time. Now, where is the question of fall in the rank? Besides, this ranking has been given based on the data availability of the past five years,’ Minister said ‘The India Innovative Index is a survey conducted by NITI Aayog and the ranking is based on indicators such as enablers and performance of every state in the country. Enablers take 10 years of assessment and performance takes five years of assessment.’

“I think Yenamala Ramakrishnudu has not read the report properly,” said Minister. Buggana Rajendranath Reddy questioned on the time frame for Ph.D programs, establishment of labs and industrial clusters and told that the indicators were taken from previous government regime.

The minister said that performance is ranked by indicators such as patents filed from the state, industrial design for origin, number of publications from the state. “Can all these be done in three months? The comments made by the opposition leader are mischief,” said Finance Minister.

“About Seven indicators and 30 sub-indicators are taken into consideration while ranking the state performance. At least not even one can be done in three months,” he added.

“Although there is a terrible financial situation inherited by the previous government, within three months, we have increased the pension amount from Rs 1000 to Rs 2250. YSR Rythu Bahrosa scheme has been implemented before one year of the promised date. The government has been paying the premium and giving insurance to farmers. About 20 percent of alcohol shops have been decreased. The women of the state are very happy for this,” said Minister and questioned “Are people incurred by these schemes?”

The current situation of Andhra Pradesh is the cause of the previous TDP government.

In 2014-15, the first year of TDP’s government, it has given Rs 2,000 crore subsidy for the industries. In 2015-16, it has allocated Rs 290 crore budget but has given only Rs 26 crore. In 2016-17, it has allocated Rs 470 crore, but has released only Rs 292 crore. In 2017-18, budget allocated was Rs 976 crore and released only Rs 740 crore. In 2018-19, it has allocated Rs 3500 crore and released only Rs 740 crore. The then government, in 2015-16, has evaded Rs 45 crore subsidy for Hindustan National Glass company

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Andhra Pradesh has secured 17th rank in the zero hunger. “To improve it, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has introduced door delivery of packed rice at Srikakulam district and the same will be implemented throughout the state from March or April of the next year,” he said.

He mentioned the state’s rank in SDG-6 (water and sanitation) is 16. “To overcome this, we will have a water grid system in the state,” he said. For SDG-11 that is for sustainable cities and communities, the state holds 26th rank. Even North-East states are ahead of us, he added.

He also criticized TDP’s false propaganda on the sand problem. “I agree that there is a sand crisis in the state. It is because of problems caused by the prevalence of rains and floods over the past few days. However, the government is doing its best to supply sand for the consumers’,” said Minister.

The Minister said that the power distribution companies (discoms) were put in jeopardy because of the TDP government and now, they were misleading about the high cost of electricity. Remembering the opposition party’s works, Minister said that the TDP government had signed an agreement in October 2018, for the purchase of thermal power from Karnataka. “Did the TDP leaders are unaware of the fact that solar and wind power production cannot be available all the time?” He questioned.

“Chandrababu government has borrowed Rs 2.8 lakh crore and the government is paying an interest amount of Rs 20,000 crore,” said Minister.

He detailed that the previous government has evaded a subsidy of Rs 950 crore for the discoms and other Rs 5000 crore electricity bills have not been given. Which is why the reason, the discoms that were in loss of Rs 7500 crore in 2014-15, were running at a loss of Rs 15, 000 crore by 2018-19.

The Minister said that the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has been working diligently to achieve the development goals. He also said that to enhance skill development and knowledge in ITI, Polytechnic and engineering students, they are studying the models of Singapore, Germany, and Sweden to take appropriate measures to improve those in the state.

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