Skill Scam: Chandrababu Naidu framed sans any evidence, alleges Nandamuri Balakrishna

AMARAVATI: TDP Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna has alleged that former Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has been taken into custody on corruption charges without any evidence in connection with a scam in Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC).

Speaking to media at NTR Bhavan in Mangalagiri on Tuesday, Balakrishna said that Chandrababu was a brand ambassador for development and public welfare, which was known across the globe. He criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for moving forward with a political vendetta as he was gripped in fear that he would be dethroned from power in the coming elections.

Balakrishna said that the skill development programme started during the previous TDP regime was aimed at providing employment opportunities in the State. “The scam is fabricated without any evidence, but YS Jagan, who is facing charges in the disproportionate assets case by the Enforcement Directorate, is roaming freely. It seems YS Jagan wants to take vengeance against Chandrababu and keep him in jail for at least 16 days as he was imprisoned in the past for 16 months and asserted that the latter was arrested on wrong charges,” he said.

The Hindupur MLA also said that the Siemens project was started in Gujarat in 2013 and it was replicated in Andhra Pradesh. The role of the Chief Minister was only that of a policy maker in the matter of the project and was limited to taking the decisions. “It is the officials who need to implement the decisions. APSSDC secretary Premachandra Reddy signed an MoU and released the funds after a proposal given by former Chief Secretary Ajeya Kallam,” Balakrishna said.

He said that Design Tech and Siemens companies had different software and hardware supply programmes. The amount was paid to the Design Tech company in four installments; around Rs 371 crore including GST had been paid. Over 2.11 lakh people were trained and 72,000 were provided with employment opportunities. Even after the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) came to power in the State it appreciated the efforts of Design Tech. However, the State Government later froze the accounts with malicious intent and the High Court reprimanded it, he said.

Taking a jibe at YS Jagan, Balakrishna said that the tax burden had increased on the people in the State and it would escalate further. “Instead of harassing the people with tax burden and opposition parties by filing false cases. YS Jagan should disclose the employment opportunities provided for the youth during his four-and-half-year rule in the State,” he said, and added that Chandrababu would come clean from the false cases filed against him by the YSRCP Government.