From Criticism to Clearance: AP Cabinet Endorses Jagan-Time Violations
If someone is caught doing wrong, no one will be spared — this is the daily statement made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. But their words say one thing, and their actions show another — a fact that has already been proven many times. Now, once again, this has been proven openly in front of the Cabinet. Despite blatant irregularities, without taking any action, the Cabinet itself has given its nod to the illegal activities carried out during Jagan’s tenure. What should one make of this? For modernization works at the Yatri Nivas under the tourism department in Vizag, the Jagan government had sanctioned ₹4.5 crore. Permission was granted for ₹4.5 crore, but the work was actually carried out for ₹13.5 crore. Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy revealed this to the media after the Cabinet meeting, stating that the Tourism Board executed the work in the previous government without any official approval.
What’s strange here is that, despite the unauthorized work during Jagan’s regime, the Cabinet has now given it formal approval without any objections. Permission was for ₹4.5 crore, but the expenditure went up to ₹13.5 crore. With that amount, a brand-new Yatri Nivas building could have been constructed, yet it was spent merely on modernization. That too, without any formal approvals during Jagan’s time — and now the current Cabinet has stamped its approval. Even some ministers were reportedly shocked by this. It’s already known that the tourism department is now being handled by Kandula Durgesh from the Jana Sena Party. The big question now is how senior officials in the tourism department approved such a proposal. Some are wondering whether anything can be regularized just by bringing it before the Cabinet, no matter how irregular it may have been. An IAS officer even expressed disbelief, asking if this is how it works now.
Criticism is also being voiced that the government did this just to protect a key IAS officer currently holding an important position. Normally, if administrative approvals are given for a project and the cost exceeds by 10–15%, it can be justified to some extent. But if the sanctioned amount was ₹4.5 crore and the actual expenditure shot up to ₹13.5 crore, one can understand the extent of corruption involved — even government insiders are saying this. On one hand, the minister says the previous government acted arbitrarily; on the other, he now admits that they have approved those very actions — this contradiction is significant. Observers from the TDP camp are even commenting that this shows just how much love Chandrababu has for Jagan. Now, all eyes are on what kind of comments the current tourism department officials will make on this proposal — a matter that is becoming increasingly crucial.
