Hyderabad: Former Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy accused the government of making misleading and incoherent statements on state finances, calling them “irresponsible public rhetoric.” He urged leaders to maintain the decorum of the House by presenting accurate and consistent figures.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Buggana highlighted discrepancies in the government’s claims. He noted that while the previous government’s loan component was reported as ₹6.5 lakh crore in the budget, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu quoted ₹9.76 lakh crore, and Yanamala Ramakrishnudu presented an even higher figure in the Legislative Council.
“This lack of concord among experienced leaders is misleading,” Buggana said, rejecting allegations of scams during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure. He defended the government’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) approach, which ensured funds reached beneficiaries transparently.
He criticized the state government for failing to implement flagship welfare schemes like Adabidda Nidhi, Talliki Andanam, Anna Daatha, and free buses for women, calling them “non-starters.” He also debunked claims that the previous government left the state in massive debt, accusing the current administration of juggling figures by double-counting loans from corporations like RTC and Civil Supplies.
Buggana highlighted the YSRCP government’s achievements, including reducing DISCOM losses and increasing state revenue receipts from 6% (2014-19) to 16.7% (2019-24), showcasing financial discipline and improved GDP contribution.
