Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Nadu on Friday released a white paper detailing financial irregularities attributed to the previous YSR Congress Party regime.
“The debt on the state’s exchequer as on 31.03.2019 was Rs 3,75,295 crore whereas the debt on the state’s exchequer as on 12.06.2024 stands at Rs 9,74,556 crore,” Nadu said the state legislative assembly.
According to The Hindu, the white paper suggested that more than 99% of the transactions at state-run liquor outlets have taken in cash mode rather than digital payments. It explained that the total sale at retail shops between 2019-24 stood at Rs 99,413.5 crore. At the same time, there were no digital payments options up to 2023. Only R615.44 crore (0.62%) digital payments in 2023-24 had taken place, stated the report.
According to the state government, the residual state of Andhra Pradesh has inherited 46% of tax revenue with 58% of the population. As a result, Andhra Pradesh’s per capita income fell far below the per capita income of Telangana.
“Without money we cannot do anything. Andhra Pradesh was growing faster than Telangana between 2014 and 2019 but there was destruction of the economy between 2019 and 2024. Farmers’ incomes declined and debts increased. When you create wealth, people’s income will increase,” said Naidu, addressing the House.
The CM also said a CID probe would soon be initiated on irregularities in liquor sale during YSRCP rule. “In the name of liquor, loans were raised for a period of 10 to 25 years," the CM said. According to him, this is a big defrauding of the state in the country's history.
According to the CM, an operation cleansing will soon be taken up in the Excise Department. He also said that keeping in view the health condition of the people all the cheap brands of liquor will be banned. Naidu on Wednesday had alleged that the liquor policies introduced by the previous YSRCP regime have caused a loss of Rs 18,860 crore to the state exchequer in the last five years.
Comparing Andhra Pradesh with Karnataka and Telangana, the CM said his state has logged lower liquor revenues during the YSRCP regime.
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly also witnessed a light moment when Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked all ministers who had been booked during the previous YSR Congress Party government to stand up. Approximately 80% of the MLAs responded.
Among those who stood were Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, and several other ministers. One female MLA disclosed having seven cases filed against her.
2024-07-26T10:40:16Z dg43tfdfdgfd