Former Chief Secretary Ajeya Kallam takes a jab at Chandrababu

Nellore: Former Chief Secretary Ajeya Kallam found fault with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for spending money without obtaining Assembly consent. His book, Melukolupu, was released at town hall here on Thursday. 

Addressing the gathering, Ajeya Kallam pointed out that the State government had spent Rs 27,000 crore without obtaining necessary approvals from the Assembly. It is evident that there is no value for objections of the public on development activities, alleged the former CS.

“No action has been initiated against 23 legislators, who shifted their loyalties. Some were made Ministers though they were not having experience of even one day as legislator. Film actors have entered into politics in Andhra Pradesh too replicating culture of Tamil Nadu,” said Ajeya Kallam.

He lamented that the state is lacking ideal leaders now and also alleged that the State government has been spoiling the Panchayat Raj system without conducting elections.Janmabhoomi committees are taking authority at gram panchayats across the state, he added. 

Ajeya Kallam questioned what the need was to spend crores of rupees to extend concessions  to Singapore flight service. He said that there was no response on the farmers’ suicides and the state and there has been only respect for traders and industrialists. “The cost of a double bed room house for one square foot is actually Rs 800 and the cost is Rs 2,700 in Andhra Pradesh. 

This shows how the Ministers and ruling party leaders in the state were making huge bucks. Is the state government working for misusing funds through development activities? questioned Ajeya Kallam. Former senior official criticised that the government has made the state as ‘Madyandhra Pradesh’ where liquor sales had hiked from Rs 11,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 17,000 crore during the current excise calendar, he added.

He also stated that there are around 15 lakh bogus votes in the entire state. It is not fair on part of the Chief Minister to spend public money for Deekshas, special flights, many camp offices, and events in the state, said Ajeya Kallam. 

Former CS also said that Chandrababu has been trying to create regional disparities in the state by centralising development at one place. Jana Chaitanya Vedika general secretary Srinivasa Rao, former Vice-Chancellor Professor Raghava Reddy, former legislator JK Reddy, Sumathi and others were present.