VIJAYAWADA: YSR Congress BC leader A.N. Radha Krishna refuted allegations of corruption against the ruling party by Telugu Desam MLC Nara Lokesh. Radha Krishna maintained that Lokesh has no moral right to accuse YSRC government after indulging in corruption when the then TD government purchased ambulances.
Giving details, Radha Krishna recalled that TD government had called for tender to purchase 278 ambulances, 202 equipped with basic life support (BLS) and 76 with advanced life support (ALS) systems. The difference between BLS and ALS ambulances is only with regard to medical equipment. There is no difference in the vehicle.
M/S Tata Motors emerged the successful bidder quoting ₹ 12.60 lakh per ambulance with cost of fabrication being ₹ 2.6 lakh.
However, the YSRC BC leader alleged that Telugu Desam government cancelled the tender for purchase of 76 ALS ambulances. It instead allotted purchase of these ambulances to M/S IIL Delhi, paying ₹ 6.49 lakh excess per ambulance. Radha Krishna alleged there had been a scam of ₹ 6.17 crore in the deal.
He pointed out that several complaints had been made to the then Anti-Corruption Bureau chief, but they were not entertained, as the then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh were involved in the scam.
The YSRC leader alleged that half of these 76 ALS ambulances purchased always remained in a state of breakdown. The worst part is some of the drivers of these vehicles even committed suicide, as they had not been paid their salaries for more than six months, he added.
