Velagapudi, Feb 14: YSRCP MLCs termed the State Annual Budget a “numbers illusion” filled with self-praise and blame on the previous government, saying it delivers injustice to every sector. Speaking at the Assembly media point, Legislative Council Opposition Leader Botsa Satyanarayana along with YSRCP MLCs Parvathaneni Chandrasekhar Reddy, Varudu Kalyani, Kalpalatha Reddy, Kumbha Ravibabu and PDF MLC Borra Gopimurthy criticised the Rs. 3.32 lakh crore budget as unrealistic and politically driven. They said the budget speech focused on glorifying leaders, mentioning the Chief Minister around 100 times, Lokesh 75–80 times and Pawan Kalyan about 20 times, instead of addressing people’s concerns. They stated that farmers suffered heavily last year and the government failed to provide MSP for crops like tobacco, chilli, mango and jowar, destroying farmers’ confidence that the government would stand by them. They noted that earlier DWCRA groups received loans at low or zero interest, but zero-interest support has now disappeared with no allocations, questioning how the government claims it will create entrepreneurs in every household.
They pointed out discrepancies in debt figures, with the budget claiming state debt at Rs. 9.46 lakh crore while YSRCP maintains its tenure borrowings were only Rs. 3.21 lakh crore. They flagged a deficit of about Rs. 97–98 thousand crore, calling it unprecedented and nearly one-third of the budget. They alleged that in just 20 months the government borrowed over Rs. 3 lakh crore without creating wealth, while revenues declined and development slowed. They said there is zero allocation for unemployment allowance and no funding for the promised Aadabidda Nidhi of Rs. 1,500 per month for about 1.20 crore women. They stated that schemes like Cheyutha, Asara and zero-interest loans were scrapped but even the replacement Aadabidda Nidhi received no funds. Fee reimbursement dues of Rs. 8,500 crore remain pending. They said not a single tenant farmer received Rythu Bharosa in two years despite issuing cards. Promises of Rs. 3,000 monthly unemployment allowance, pensions for those above 50 years and two cents of land distribution were ignored with no allocations. They also noted there is no mention of zero-interest loans for women’s self-help groups.
The MLCs said the government sent signed bonds to households promising benefits but the budget has no link to those assurances. Employees’ PRC, DA arrears and IR remain unpaid, and despite claims of welfare for police, no meaningful allocation was made. They called the government a “double cheating government” rather than a double-engine one, deceiving voters and neglecting farmers, women, unemployed and employees. They said the budget does not explain how it will improve the lives of five crore people and instead pushes the state deeper into debt. The YSRCP leaders asserted that the budget is full of falsehoods and imaginary projections and said they will hold the government accountable and expose these budget deceptions in the Legislative Council.
*Restart Rayalaseema Lift now or face a mass agitation: YSRCP*
