Sajjala criticises Amaravati push, alleges financial burden on people

YSR Congress Party State coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu over the Amaravati capital project, alleging that it imposes a heavy financial burden on the public and lacks practical feasibility.

At a press conference at the party headquarters in Tadepalli in Guntur district on Saturday (April 4), while criticizing the three capital city proposal brought by former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he accused Mr. Naidu of insulting different districts by comparing them to playing cards. The YSRCP leader alleged that Mr Naidu was pushing the celebrations due to what he termed an unviable capital riddled with debts of around ₹ 2 lakh crore.

He claimed that the call for Amaravati celebrations was largely rejected even by officials and employees despite instructions. Mr. Reddy alleged that the Amaravati project was due to corruption, inflated contracts and excessive borrowing. He criticized the government for raising funds at higher interest rates, including Amaravati bonds at over 10 per cent, and questioned the economic logic behind such decisions. He said the burden of debt would eventually fall on the people.

Defending former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s vision on Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur (MaViGun), he said the idea was to create a self-sustaining growth engine without being a burden on the State. He reiterated that the capital must be accessible and financially sustainable, not limited to building a few buildings.

Citing examples such as Nava Raipur, the greenfield capital of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Reddy argued that capital cities should develop along with economic activities rather than heavy borrowing. He also supported decentralization, stating that it was based on expert recommendations, including the Sivaramakrishnan Committee report.

He also alleged that Amaravati has become a source of revenue for vested interests and every citizen has become liable up to ₹ 2 lakh. He demanded that the government rethink its approach and prioritize people-centred, financially viable development models.