TDP coalition govt corrupt: Jagan

Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, launched a sharp attack on the TDP coalition government, accusing it of being riddled with corruption and scams. He called it a ‘looting and sharing’ regime, highlighting the government’s failure to deliver on its promises, irregularities in the sand policy, and misuse of flood relief funds. He also pointed to corruption in liquor distribution and the Skill Development Scam, demanding transparency in elections through the counting of VVPAT slips to safeguard democratic values.
Addressing the media at the party’s central office on Friday, YS Jagan criticised the TDP coalition for failing to present a full budget even after five months in power, continuing instead with a vote-on-account budget. He pointed to rampant corruption in key sectors like sand, liquor, gambling, and mining, where bribes are commonplace. He stated that the government has neglected its promises, allowing scams to dominate governance post-election, pushing the state into deeper trouble.  YS Jagan particularly criticised Chandrababu Naidu and other coalition leaders for mismanaging sand prices.
He noted that while they had complained about high sand prices before the elections, the situation had worsened under the current government, with sand prices skyrocketing to between Rs 20,000 and Rs 60,000 per truckload across constituencies.
He accused the TDP coalition of exploiting sand resources through corrupt tender practices, with tenders being opened for just two days during a festival, which he termed as highly irregular.
In contrast, Jagan highlighted the transparency of his government’s e-tendering system, where contractors paid Rs 475 per tonne of sand, with Rs 375 going as royalty to the State, generating Rs 750 crore annually. He criticised the current administration for lacking transparency, pointing out that despite their claims of offering free sand, the government has earned no revenue, while sand prices continue to soar.
On the liquor policy, YS Jagan accused Naidu of favouring private distilleries by introducing a policy that allowed mafias to take control of liquor sales by closing down government-run shops. He noted that his government had reduced alcohol consumption by cutting down the number of liquor shops and raising prices, which also increased state revenue. He warned that Naidu’s promise of ?99 liquor was misleading, as it would lead to poor-quality alcohol, risking public health.
Regarding the Skill Development Scam, YS Jagan pointed out that Chandrababu Naidu is accused of approving Rs 371 crore for a Skill Development programme, which was diverted through shell companies. He noted that despite the Enforcement Directorate attaching assets worth Rs 54.74 crore and naming Naidu in the scam, the former Chief Minister falsely claimed he had received a clean chit. Jagan added that Siemens’ internal investigation confirmed the fraud, with clear evidence of fund misuse. Despite this, Naidu and his media allies continue to spread misinformation in an attempt to cover up his involvement in the massive financial scandal.