Unveiling Andhra Pradesh capital master plan a diversionary tactic: YSRC

Hyderabad: YSR Congress on Tuesday alleged that the master plan for AP capital city released by the TDP government is a "diversionary tactic" to "cover up" the recent 'Pushkaram' stampede tragedy, which claimed 27 lives.

"The state hurriedly releasing the master plan airlifting a Singapore Minister is only a diversion plan and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been using the publicity machinery to cover up his failures one after the other," party MLA, R K Roja, alleged.

"To cover up the cash-for-vote scam, he (Naidu) had planned a grand publicity for Godavari 'Pushkaram' roping in international channels and when it backfired with the tragedy, now he brings in a Singapore Minister by a chartered flight to release a master plan of the capital city, which are nothing but diversionary tactics," she alleged.

'Pushkaram', also called Kumbh Mela of South, had witnessed a stampede claiming 27 lives on the first day of the festival on July 14.

"The master plan looks like a colourful brochure that realtors release before they sell the houses, and it looks good on paper," Roja told reporters.

But where are the budgetary allocations, she asked and added, "Is it the Centre that is responsible for building the capital or the Singapore government? Such questions should be answered by the state categorically."

"First it should make it clear if the Centre has any role to play in the capital formation or not. The State Reorganisation Act 2014 clearly states that it is the job of the Centre. The Centre's role, farmers' compensation and what is there for weaker sections in the master plan should be told in unequivocal terms," she said.