YS Jagan Press Meet Highlights:
- During the elections, Chandrababu Naidu promised “Babu Surety. Future Guarantee.” However, the situation has now shifted to “Babu Surety. Deceit Guarantee.”
- He promised 143 assurances in the manifesto, and extensively campaigned for them, even distributing guarantee bonds. However, none of these promises have materialized. He also encouraged people to question him if the promises were unfulfilled. The question remains: What happened to those bonds, manifestos, and pamphlets?
Record High Borrowing
- In just 9 months, the state has accumulated unprecedented debts. No previous government has borrowed on this scale. The budgetary debt alone stands at ₹80,827 crores.
- Additional debts are being incurred, including ₹52,000 crores from loans, with contributions from the World Bank, KFW (Germany), HUDCO, and CRDA.
- With debts from other sectors, the total borrowing has crossed ₹1.45 lakh crore, marking a record that no one has been able to break.
Schemes in Crisis
- Several welfare schemes have failed to deliver, including Amma Odi for children’s education, Rythu Bharosa for farmers, and others like Vasati Divena, Vidya Divena, and Cheyutha.
- Existing schemes for various communities, including the fishermen, backward classes, and others, are languishing.
- Despite borrowing ₹1.45 lakh crore, the question remains: Where is this money going?
No Jobs, Existing Jobs Are Gone
- In the past 9 months, no new jobs have been created, and existing jobs have been eliminated. 2.60 lakh volunteer jobs have been slashed, and 18,000 jobs in the Beverages Corporation are also gone.
- There are reports of massive job cuts in various departments like FiberNet, APDC, and Health.
- Existing government employees are also suffering, with no interim relief or pay increases, and the promised PRC (Pay Revision Commission) has not materialized.
Selling State Wealth
- The government has sold off vital state assets, including ports and medical colleges.
- Under the previous regime, four ports were developed, including Ramayapatnam, which is nearing completion.
- 17 new medical colleges were announced, with 5 already operational and 5 more expected to open soon. However, the government is now selling these assets.
The Scams in the Making
- In his vision of wealth creation, Chandrababu Naidu focused on enriching himself and his family.
- Various scams have come to light, such as the sand scam, where revenue has significantly dwindled. Additionally, the privatization of liquor shops and involvement in illegal auctions have raised red flags.
- In every constituency, belt shops are being auctioned off, with no regulation, leading to exorbitant prices and widespread corruption.
Corruption and Mobilization in Contracts
- A new “mobilization” process in government contracts has paved the way for corruption. Contractors are paid 10% upfront, with 8% going to officials, while the rest is left for the contractors.
- Previous systems like Judicial Preview and Reverse Tendering were abolished, enabling unchecked corruption.
- Anyone questioning the system is silenced using the “Red Book” of governance.
Chandrababu Naidu’s PhD in Deceit
- Jagan highlighted that Chandrababu Naidu excels in deceit, using his promises as a façade and constantly shifting the blame on others. His performances mimic an award-winning act in misleading the public.
Slow Poisoning Before Elections
- Jagan mentioned how Chandrababu Naidu had slowly poisoned the public’s trust through manipulative tactics and false promises.
- Media outlets that support him further embellish the narrative, offering excuses for his failures.
CAG Report Manipulation
- Jagan also pointed out how the CAG report on capital expenditure was manipulated, portraying his government’s spending in a negative light while omitting crucial details about previous financial discrepancies under Chandrababu’s rule.
Who Really Delivered Development?
- Under Chandrababu’s leadership (2014-2019), the state’s share in India’s GDP was 4.47%, but under Jagan’s regime (2019-2024), it has risen to 4.80%.
- In terms of per capita income, Andhra Pradesh climbed from 18th to 15th place. The state’s GDP growth has outpaced the national rate, with a growth rate of 10.23% as compared to the national average of 9.34%.
- Industrial output also saw an improvement, with the state rising from 11th to 9th position.
Economic Destruction Under Chandrababu
- Jagan criticized Chandrababu for manipulating the state’s fiscal health, claiming that the borrowing and interest burden under his rule led to economic instability.
- He pointed out that the debt growth rate during Chandrababu’s tenure was higher than the state’s GDP growth rate, which led to the worsening financial conditions.
