Opposition party alleges funds not being released to mandals represented by its leaders

Chittoor: The Zilla Parishad meeting here on Tuesday ended abruptly as the main opposition YSR Congress leaders cornered the ruling Telugu Desam over public issues. As the proceedings of the ZP meeting began, YSR Congress ZPTCs and MPTCs led by Venkat Reddy Yadav staged a protest in front of the podium. ZP chairperson Geervani presided over the meeting. District Minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy, Collector Siddharth Jain and other officials attended the meeting.

Alleging that the ruling TDP was resorting to political discrimination over release of funds to the mandals represented by YSRC ZPTCs and MPTCs, YSRC leader Venkat Reddy Yadav said the development at the ground level was severely crippled owing to the lacklustre approach of the ZP Chairperson. Stating that funds between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore were released to the TDP-led mandals to undertake various development works, he alleged that the YSRCP mandals were not given a single rupee.

The YSRC members continued their protests despite several appeals by ZP chairperson Geervani and Minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy. Meanwhile, Nagari YSR Congress MLA R K Roja stepped up the ante against minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy saying that he had lost his mental balance as he was absolutely not in a position to listen to the public grievances. “The minister should immediately consult a doctor and get his condition treated,” said Roja.

Other YSRC MLAs, including N Amarnath Reddy and Chintal Ramachandra Reddy, lashed out at the ruling party and the district administration for the alleged discrimination in the release of funds and redressal of public grievances. The farmers were facing a crisis owing to the severe drought conditions prevailing in several mandals on the western side of the district, they said.

Stating that people in general and women in particular were facing lot of problems in getting water, they accused the ruling party and officials of trying to hoodwink the public with false figures and promises. Meanwhile, with the YSRC leaders refusing to withdraw their protest, Bojjala left the meeting early and the zilla parishad meeting ended abruptly.