MP Tells Lok Sabha YSRC Not Against Amaravati, Opposes ‘Flawed Bill’

Vijayawada: YSRC MP P.V. Mithun Reddy on Wednesday maintained in the Lok Sabha that his party is not opposed to Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s capital. However, YSRC strongly objects to the bill in its present form, the Lok Sabha member stated, alleging large-scale misuse of public funds.

Participating in a debate on the Amaravati Bill in the Lower House, Mithun Reddy asserted that the capital is a matter falling within the jurisdiction of the state government. He accused the N. Chandrababu Naidu government of blowing up the capital issue only to divert attention of the AP people from major concerns.

Questioning the government’s priorities, the MP said the administration that harps on lack of funds for salaries and welfare schemes is proposing a massive expenditure on Amaravati. He alleged that in the process, public money is being “indiscriminately looted” in the guise of developing the capital.

Mithun Reddy charged that though farmers who donated lands for the capital in Amaravati between 2014 and 2019 had been promised developed plots within two years, the promise has not been fulfilled yet. “Farmers have been deceived. Some of them have even died unable to bear their sorrow,” he maintained, demanding that the government clarify how it intends to do justice.

The Lok Sabha member raised doubts over project costs in Amaravati. He emphasised that while the development cost in Delhi is around ₹4,000 per square yard, it exceeds ₹12,000 in Amaravati. He questioned the need for additional land acquisition. He pointed out that ₹5,335 crore had been spent on Amaravati during Chandrababu Naidu’s earlier tenure. In this regard, he pointed out that the state’s debt has already crossed ₹3 lakh crore in the past two years.

Taking a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the centre, Mithun Reddy said it had gone back on its earlier stance of supporting a second capital in Rayalaseema. He reiterated that YSRC favours balanced regional development while safeguarding farmers’ interests.

Later, the YSRC members staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha protesting against the misuse of public funds.