In a recent press conference, former minister Perni Nani accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh of unscrupulously seeking to seize public assets. Addressing the media in Vijayawada, Nani expressed his discontent over Lokesh’s remarks about offering land for as little as half a rupee. He described such statements as shameful and questioned whether they intended to distribute the public’s wealth among themselves.
Nani urged Lokesh to maintain decorum in his public statements, suggesting that restraint would lend dignity to his discourse. He highlighted a concerning incident involving the Municipal Commissioner of Machilipatnam, who allegedly failed to provide necessary documents when asked by Nani’s party, calling the situation laughable. Nani claimed that local officials were acting more as political operatives for the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) than as impartial public servants.
In a scathing critique, he referred to the attitude of the Municipal Commissioner, suggesting it mirrored a disregard for judicial rulings, as he reportedly dismissed a court verdict with a sense of arrogance. Nani emphasized the importance of accountability for public officials, reminding them that they are sustained by taxpayer money and should not act with impunity. He warned that such behavior could lead to a backlash from the public, akin to how the British were eventually ousted from India.
Continuing his criticism, Nani questioned the rationale behind Lokesh’s proposal to offer heritage lands for drastically low prices. He rhetorically asked if such assets would be sold at half a rupee and whether the public’s property was merely at the mercy of the ruling party’s whims. He accused Chandrababu and Lokesh of recklessly engaging in activities that jeopardize the public’s resources.
Moreover, Nani took issue with how the party has been distorting the statements and policies of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He pointed out that Jagan’s comments about constructing infrastructure in the Krishna river basin were being misrepresented. Nani insisted that should the government choose to invest intelligently, it could benefit the public rather than squander resources on ineffective projects.
He further criticized the expenditure on environmental measures, such as the removal of trees in Amaravati, which he claimed were costing taxpayers hundreds of crores. Instead, he proposed that spending on sustainable development along the Vijayawada-Guntur corridor would yield better results for the community. Nani challenged the TDP leaders, questioning their silence when Jagan presented logical arguments while they, in turn, propagated falsehoods.
In closing, Perni Nani warned that the day of reckoning for the government was approaching, as the public was becoming increasingly aware of the discrepancies in their governance. His statements reflected a growing frustration among opposition leaders regarding the TDP’s handling of public assets and governance issues, signaling a potential escalation in political tensions as the next elections draw near.
