Why Are Pawan Kalyan, Nadendla Manohar Silent on APCRDA Spending?

If TDP ministers question the corruption taking place in the Andhra Pradesh government, they immediately lose their posts. That is why they never dare to do so. If at all, they speak about it only in private conversations but never attempt to speak officially. Who would risk losing their posts by speaking out? But why are Jana Sena chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and another Jana Sena minister Nadendla Manohar, who is fully aware of everything happening in the government, remaining silent in the cabinet even when arbitrary decisions are being taken right before their eyes? What is the story behind this? In official circles, there is a discussion whether all parties in the coalition are standing together in everything—even in corruption. Not only Jana Sena but also BJP’s minister in the cabinet, Satya Kumar, is being discussed—whether, like Jana Sena and TDP ministers, he too is saying “okay” to every decision taken by the coalition government led by Chandrababu.

Mainly, a decision taken in a recent Andhra Pradesh cabinet meeting is now creating a major uproar. It is known that Rs.160 crores were allocated for the APCRDA building, which was already more than half completed during Chandrababu’s first term. Looking at it, even without including land costs, for the construction of a building in 2.5 lakh square feet, the expenditure would not be so high. Considering the previous spending on this building as well, discussions are going on in official and engineering circles that this is a new record in corruption. In the G.O. recently released by the Municipal Department, it has been clearly stated that the Rs.160 crores is being allocated for architectural works, interior finishing works, mechanical, electrical, plumbing works, information technology works, and external development works of the CRDA office.

So the discussion now is whether in such a crucial matter any real discussion happened in the cabinet meeting—or whether all of them, acting in unison, gave a green signal to this massive corruption. From the very beginning of allocations in Amaravati works to cost escalations, there have been large-scale allegations and criticisms. Now, spending more than Rs.200 crores in total for just one CRDA building is being discussed as a record in the history of corruption. If TDP ministers did not speak about this, it is understandable. But why did Pawan Kalyan, Nadendla Manohar—who always talk about honesty and integrity—and BJP minister Satya Kumar also say “okay” to this? That is what has now become the key question.