*Coalition government betrayed pensioners: Mutyala Naidu*

Visakhapatnam, Sept 8: Former Minister Budi Mutyala Naidu alleged that the coalition government had removed 6.20 lakh pensions and failed to sanction a single new pension during its 26 months in office.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP office in Visakhapatnam, he said Chandrababu Naidu had promised pensions from the age of 50 but had not sanctioned them even under the existing 60-year eligibility rule. After keeping the application portal closed for 26 months, the government had now given only seven days to apply. He demanded that applications be accepted continuously.

He said 66,34,372 people received pensions under the YSRCP government, but the number had now fallen to 60,13,609. Even pensions of persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses were being reviewed for removal, he alleged.

Mutyala Naidu recalled that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had reduced the pension eligibility age from 65 to 60 and sanctioned 10,60,208 new pensions immediately after assuming office. Pensions were delivered to beneficiaries’ doorsteps without political discrimination.

He alleged that the latest application process was aimed at misleading people before the local body elections. He also accused the government of failing to implement its promises on jobs, Rs 3,000 unemployment allowance, Rs 1,500 monthly assistance for women and three free gas cylinders.

He said rising prices, power charges and fuel costs had burdened families, while drought had devastated farmers. He demanded a complete waiver of crop loans and free seeds and investment support for alternative crops.

Mutyala Naidu said the government had borrowed over Rs 3.56 lakh crore without properly implementing welfare programmes. He demanded Chandrababu Naidu’s resignation and challenged the government to order CBI investigations into the alleged DSC irregularities and allegations concerning the previous APPSC recruitment process.