Netizens grumble over N Chandrababu Naidu's MoU US tour, row begins

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu embarks on a busy eight-day trip to the United States on May 4. He will sign MoUs with various global firms and interact with 300 chief executive officers (CEOs) during his tour. However, social media platforms are challenging Mr Naidu and his team, asking how the IT Serv consortium will enter an MoU with the CM. The consortium entered MoUs with the then IT minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy twice, and Nara Lokesh once.

Praising the CM for his tireless efforts in getting MoUs with Microsoft, Google and Infosys once, NRIs are questioning how he was prompted to enter MoUs with IT Serv, a consortium of IT companies that has questionable integrity. Kia Motors came to AP and signed an MoU with the government for Rs 11,000 crore, so what prompted the AP government to go for an MoU with this consortium, which is proposing MoUs worth Rs 300 crore only, netizens asked.

A former minister said a split in the NRI division of the TD is the root cause of the present controversy. AP Non-Resident Telugu’'s Association (APNRT) members, facing criticism for allegedly promoting divisional politics among NRIs, particularly the TD fans, became the subject of discussion for several Telugu NRIs on Facebook. An NRI from Dallas said he would believe in talent, rather than selling talent, indirectly referring to APNRT’s reported high-handedness. Another NRI posted that such types of politics were not seen in Mr Naidu’s earlier tenures.

Dr. S. Raghavendra Prasad posted on his FB wall, that it has been 10 years since Mr Naidu’s  last trip to Dallas. “Many things changed since then. NRI TD members actively canvassed for TD candidates in the last two elections. TD came to power. State divided. State got the distinction of being number one in alcohol consumption with 34 litres per head per year. Suicides became the number one killer in AP, surpassing accidents,” he wrote.

“NRT was created with an NRI as head; he was never involved in NRI TD or any community activity before. The only qualification Vemuru Ravikumar has is that he is in the good books of Nara Lokesh. The NRT leadership successfully pushed aside the NRI TD leadership and cadre in all activities that it took over themselves,” Dr Prasad posted. “The introduction of NRT fractured the otherwise very united NRI TD,” he observed and expressed hope that there could be a candid exchange of views in this area for a better TD and AP of tomorrow.