*Amaravati is a cover for massive corruption and diversion politics*

Dharmavaram/Kadapa, March 29: YSR Congress Party leaders Kethireddy Venkatarami Reddy, P. Ravindranath Reddy, and former Deputy CM Amjad Basha have strongly criticised the Chandrababu Naidu-led government, stating that Amaravati is being used as a cover for large-scale corruption and diversion politics while farmers continue to suffer without justice. They pointed out that farmers who gave lands for the capital have been running around CRDA offices for the past two years asking for clarity on their plots, with many not even knowing where their allotted plots are. Despite acquiring around 50,000 acres earlier, the government has failed to provide developed returnable plots, and in several cases, plots have been allocated in low-lying areas, canals, and waterlogged lands, while prime locations are allegedly being allotted to ruling party leaders.

The leaders stated that the government, unable to gain farmers’ consent for the second phase of land pooling of another 50,000 acres, has brought in the Assembly resolution as a political tool to create fear among people and mislead them. They said that despite raising loans of nearly Rs.47,000 crore, there is no visible progress on capital works, while around Rs.400 crore has been spent merely on designs. The repeated participation of a limited number of companies in tenders and the awarding of contracts at inflated costs have raised serious doubts about transparency. While construction costs in major cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru remain far lower, Amaravati projects are being executed at unusually high rates, pointing towards large-scale irregularities and misuse of public funds through mobilisation advances.

YSRCP leaders clarified that the party is not opposed to Amaravati as a capital but is firmly against the corruption, land exploitation, and injustice to farmers happening in its name. They stated that Chandrababu Naidu has no real intention of completing the capital, as continuous works and inflated contracts ensure ongoing commissions. They further criticised the government for failing to implement key promises like Super Six and Super Seven schemes, and instead using Amaravati as a diversion from governance failures.

They also questioned the legitimacy of the Assembly resolution, noting that legal sanctity cannot be achieved without due legislative process, including the Legislative Council. The leaders accused the government of misleading the public with claims of a “self-financing” model while burdening the state with massive debts and expenditures. They demanded that the government first provide justice to farmers by clearly allotting and developing their plots and ensuring timely payments, instead of pushing for further land acquisition.

The leaders concluded that Amaravati has been reduced to a real estate-driven project aimed at benefiting select interests, while farmers are left in distress and the state is pushed into financial uncertainty. They asserted that people are closely observing these developments and will hold the government accountable for its actions.