2024 elections will be a 'DPT' vs DBT Kurukshetra in Andhra Pradesh: YS Jagan

KURNOOL: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday asked the people of the state to decide between Chandrababu Naidu’s deceptive DPT and his DBT in the next elections which, he said, will be fought like a Kurukshetra in the state.

He addressed a public meeting in Pathikonda of Kurnool district after transfering fresh tranche of funds under YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan Yojana directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. YS Jagan likened the impending 2024 Assembly elections to a Kurukshetra in Andhra Pradesh.

“The state is going to witness a Kurukshetra-like battle in the next elections. I appeal to the people of the state to choose wisely between Chandrababu Naidu’s DPT (dochuko panchuko tinuko or ‘plunder, stash and devour’ in English) and your son’s earnest implementation of DBT (direct benefit transfer) into the accounts of the beneficiaries,” the Chief Minister said amid thunderous applause.

YS Jagan has been harping on the contrast between what he calls DPT under Chandrababu Naidu regime and the DBT during his time. Perhaps for the first time he publicly announced that the state was heading to a Kurukshetra-like war in the form of the 2024 elections. Drawing confidence from the uninterrupted implementation of DBT to beneficiaries under various welfare schemes, the YSRCP chief has been painstakingly highlighting how Chandrababu Naidu misused the welfare initiative with deception.

He has been fervently appealing to the people of the state to see and realise the sincerity of his government in implementing all the promises he made through the YSRCP elections.

YS Jagan slammed TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu over the opposition party’s recently released mini manifesto, which he termed ‘malafide’. He said, “Chandrababu's political philosophy is to release an attractive manifesto just before elections and backstab later. Our manifesto came from the hearts of the people of Andhra Pradesh which I gathered during my padayatra. But Chandrababu's manifesto was born in Karnataka because he is a non-resident of Andhra Pradesh.” It was an indirect reference to the opposition leader copying some of the features of his mini-manifesto from that of the Congress party in Karnataka.

In an all-out attack, the Chief Minister said, “Chandrababu is an enemy of the farmers. He organized a drama in Rajahmundry called Mahanadu. He deceived NTR when he was alive, and now he is calling him a Yuga Purush. Andhra Pradesh is like Kurukshetra and the next war will be between DPT (Dochuko, Panchuko, Tinuko) and DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), so I request you to choose wisely.”

Disburses Rs 3,923 cr to benefit 52.31 lakh farmers

Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister disbursed financial assistance to farmers for the fifth consecutive year under YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan Yojana. By pressing the button, he transferred Rs 3,923.21 crore as the first tranche of this year into the accounts of 52,30,939 farmers. With this, each farmer receives Rs 5,500 directly into the bank accounts from the YSRCP government and another Rs 2,000 from the Centre as part of the PM Kisan Yojana.

YS Jagan said, “Knowing very well that farmers' welfare is state welfare, the YSRCP government has extended support of YSR Rythu Bharosa for the fifth consecutive year which was not mentioned in the manifesto. With this assistance, we have distributed Rs 61,500 to each farmer across the state.”

Highlights of YSR Rythu Bharosa scheme

• According to the YSRCP regime in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has been extending assistance of Rs 13,500 every year to farmers with the first installment of Rs 7,500 in May at the time of Kharif sowing season, the second installment of Rs 4,000 in October during the Kharif harvesting season and the third installment of Rs 2,000 in January or February.

• With the present distribution of Rs 3,923 crore under Rythu Bharosa, the State government has disbursed Rs 30,985 crore so far in the last four years to farmers.

• The YSRCP government led by YS Jagan has delivered more than what was assured to the people during the 2019 elections. Financial assistance of Rs 12,500 per year for four years was promised in the manifesto for the farmers. However, the government has extended the scheme for five years with extended assistance of Rs 13,500 every year.

• Contrary to the massive achievements of the YSRCP government by uplifting the lives of the farmers, the previous regime under the TDP government promised to waive off Rs 87,000 crore crop loans in 2014 but paid only Rs 15,000 crore betraying the mandate of the farmers.