Tadepalli, March 3: Botsa Satyanarayana, leader of Opposition in Council addressed the media, sharply criticizing the ruling coalition parties for their inability to respond to the opposition’s questions and resorting to political counterattacks.
He accused the coalition of defaming the opposition when questioned on behalf of the public, calling it an unacceptable tactic. Highlighting the ruling party's inconsistent stance, Botsa pointed out that while they claim the existing Secretariat and Assembly buildings are not temporary, they simultaneously invite tenders for new constructions, which he described as a clear example of their duplicity and lack of credibility.
Botsa further condemned Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s remarks on welfare schemes, labeling them deplorable and unprecedented in the history of any Chief Minister since India’s independence. He challenged the ruling party leaders and the Chief Minister’s Office to officially clarify their stance if they believe their statements were misrepresented, questioning why they hesitate to do so.
He emphasized that no Chief Minister has ever spoken in such a manner, noting that beneficiaries exist across all parties and questioning the fairness of attributing them to specific political groups. Additionally, he alleged that live broadcast of council proceedings were halted under the pretext of technical issues when these matters were raised.
Addressing allegations of corruption in the Rushikonda constructions, Botsa dismissed them as baseless, arguing that if irregularities had occurred, how could the government have cleared bills worth Rs. 10,500 per square foot for temporary buildings? He questioned how payments were made to contractors if the work was flawed, demanding an inquiry and punishment if any wrongdoing is proven, rather than the government’s evasive responses.
He accused the ruling party of misusing the House for political gain and attempting to bulldoze the opposition, while reaffirming the opposition’s commitment to holding the government accountable on behalf of the people.
Reflecting on past governance, Botsa recalled that during the TDP''s tenure, a Rs. 1.19 lakh crore plan was outlined for Amaravati’s development, yet as Municipal Minister under the YSRCP government, only Rs. 6,000 crore was spent—Rs. 2,000 crore from bonds, Rs. 2,000 crore from the state budget, and Rs. 2,000 crore left as dues. He argued that building a capital with such ambitious estimates would take another five to six years, a financial burden the state could not bear at the time, leading him to liken the situation to barren lands. He criticized the construction of temporary buildings at Rs. 10,500 per square foot seven years ago as reckless exploitation, accusing the government of trying to suppress the opposition’s questions with defamatory tactics when unable to provide answers.
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