Machilipatnam, Oct 4 – Former Minister and YSRCP Krishna District President Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) slammed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and Nara Lokesh, declaring that what they celebrated as “Drivers’ Service Day” is in fact “Drivers’ Betrayal Day.”
Nani said the coalition staged a khaki-shirt drama, while ignoring their pre-poll promises. “Naidu pledged free RTC bus travel for every Aadhaar-linked woman, yet after one year in power it was implemented only with severe restrictions, reduced buses, curtailed long routes, limited coverage. Women were dissatisfied, and auto drivers lost livelihoods. Their protests forced today’s gimmick,” he charged.
Naidu boasted that Rs. 436 crore was given to 2,90,669 drivers. Nani countered: “Lokesh himself said there were 13 lakh drivers two years ago. Today there should be at least 15 lakh. Why is help restricted to 2.90 lakh? Where is the Drivers’ Welfare Board, insurance, education loans, 5% interest subsidy on loans, or the Rs.
15,000 annual support promised to badge-holding auto, taxi, lorry, and tipper drivers? Why deny aid if challans are pending or if autos are in family members’ names? This is deception, not service.”
By contrast, he recalled, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy introduced Vahana Mitra after hearing auto drivers’ plight during his padayatra in Machilipatnam. He promised Rs. 10,000 annually and kept his word for five consecutive years: 2,36,344 beneficiaries in Year 1, 2,74,476 in Year 2, 2,56,646 in Year 3, 2,61,516 in Year 4, and 2,75,931 in Year 5. “Support was unconditional, even for family-registered autos or drivers with challans. We implemented every word of our 2019 manifesto,” Nani stressed.
He reminded that Lokesh once accused YSRCP of giving only to 10% of drivers, promising welfare boards, accident and health insurance, subsidised e-autos, and facilities like charging points and toilets at stands. “We are showing his 2023 statements and press clippings today. Where is all this now? Even last year’s Rs. 15,000 has been skipped, are you admitting arrears?” he asked.
Ridiculing Naidu’s promise of apps and control rooms, Nani said: “This is not a festival, it is betrayal. Just as he betrayed NTR, today he betrayed drivers.” He challenged Naidu, Pawan, and Lokesh to ride in autos across Krishna district roads: “Before reaching, they will end up in hospital.”
“For lakhs of struggling families, today is no service—it is betrayal,” Nani concluded.
Chandrababu’s bankruptcy, lies & anti-farmer rule laid bare
