'Why extravagant trips when AP faces fund crunch?'

Slamming TDP government for its lavish spending with Chief Minister visiting Singapore by a chartered flight at a time when the State is reeling under severe economic crisis, YSR Congress has demanded that the real purpose of the visit should be made public and the Centre should intervene and probe the itinerary details.

“The State has issued a GO clearing the tour and an amount of Rs 70 lakhs was given as advance to book the special flight. While the Chief Minister and his entourage left by the chartered flight another flight followed it laden with entrepreneurs and Chandrababu Naidu’s close business associates.

At a time when the State is facing severe financial crunch and funds are being raised to build the new capital, Hudhud Cyclone affected people are still left in the lurch and the poll promises are kept pending the Chief Minister has been on trip to address a gathering at the little known South Asian Studies’ annual function,” party spokesperson Amabti Rambabu told reporters here on Wednesday.

Chandrababu Naidu has affinity towards Singapore as he is a frequent visitor to that place and has many business interests. Tehalka has reported that he owns business establishments and his coterie is following him to that country all the time. The Centre should intervene and investigate the actual reason of his frequent visits to Singapore as there are allegations of proxy business deals, he said.

Despite so many trips to Singapore Naidu could not bring a single major project to the State. While YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as leader of Opposition was touring the entire state, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been frequenting Singapore for personal reasons and not official. This angle should be probed by a competent Central agency, he said.

“TDP government should shun such lavish spending and concentrate more on pressing problems of rehabilitation to the Hudhud affected families, state capital and other important issues,” he said.