Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Polit Bureau member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has reiterated that the Central government must invoke Article 360 of the Constitution and impose financial emergency in Andhra Pradesh.
He posed 12 questions to Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranth Reddy, who refuted the CAG’s observation of financial irregularities to the tune of ₹48,000 core by the State government.
In a statement on Monday, Mr. Ramakrishnudu asserted that he did not make any baseless allegations and was quoting the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The former Finance Minister said that transactions of ₹48,234 crore— about one-third of the total budget expenditure — were carried out without proper accounting and documentation, in violation of the Treasury Code and without informing the State Assembly.
“Bypassing the treasury system is a violation of financial management norms. Utilisation of public money without proper cause amounts to fraud,” said Mr. Ramakrishnudu.
Seeking to know why the CAG cited “possible misappropriation of funds”, the TDP leader said the State government was unable to show bills for ₹48,284 crore.
“It gives scope for doubts whether the government has misused the amount. Why has the CAG stated that it was not possible to approve the special bills? All my demands are rational, based on the CAG’s findings. The government owes an explanation,” he said.
‘Selfish decisions’
“The Centre must consider the budgetary and financial violations that are extremely serious in nature committed by the State government. No other State is facing such financial crisis as Andhra Pradesh. The corruption and selfish decisions are the root cause of the crisis. The Centre must respond before it is too late,” said Mr. Ramakrishunudu
Alleging that the State is being pushed into a quagmire, the TDP leader reiterated his demand for a CBI enquiry into the ‘financial irregularities’ in the State.
