‘Govt ignored minorities’

Alliance candidate for the Visakhapatnam Parliamentary seat, M Sribharat, has criticised the ruling party for what he termed the exploitation of minorities for electoral gains. Addressing the Atmiya Samavesam of Muslims, Sribharat accused the YCP of relegating minorities to mere vote banks, contrasting their alleged neglect with the initiatives undertaken during the tenure of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Sribharat recalled the measures implemented under Chandrababu Naidu’s rule, such as the Ramzan Tohfa and facilitation of the Haj Yatra for Muslim minorities. However, he lamented the lack of similar efforts by the current regime to address the needs of minority communities. Highlighting the financial repercussions of the alleged mismanagement under the YCP government, Sribharat warned of soaring debts exceeding Rs 13 lakh crore. He expressed concerns about the state’s ability to meet its financial obligations, particularly the payment of salaries and pensions for employees, with an annual loan servicing obligation of up to 1 lakh 50 thousand crores.
Emphasizing the alliance’s commitment to rectifying these issues, Sribharat announced a collaboration with the BJP for central assistance. He pledged to prioritize the welfare and respect of Muslim minorities, promising increased job opportunities for youth while condemning attempts by YSRCP leaders to exploit caste and religious divisions for political gains.