Kurnool: Mines, science, and technology minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, criticised Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of making baseless claims about sand exploitation to divert public attention.
He said that Naidu was resorting to such tactics because he couldn’t tolerate the welfare and development programmes implemented by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government in the state.
Speaking at a press conference held at the camp office in Tirupati on Saturday, Ramachandra Reddy compared Naidu’s tactics to those of Goebbels, who was known for spreading propaganda, and accused Naidu of trying to mislead the public with false allegations and personal attacks because he couldn’t address public issues effectively.
Ramachandra Reddy questioned why Naidu didn’t participate in sand tenders and clarified that the government had given ample time for participation.
He said that they had extensively publicised the sand rates to ensure transparency and fairness. Further, strict laws have been enacted to combat illegal sand mining in the state, including fines of up to two lakh rupees and imprisonment for up to two years for those involved in illegal activities.
Regarding Naidu’s claims about GST on sand, the minister explained that GST collections were managed by central government wings, and any issues related to GST payment would be handled by them.
The minister highlighted the significant increase in mining revenue under the current government, stating that in 2018–19, when the Telugu Desam government was in power, mining revenue was only '1,950 crore. In contrast, in 2022–23, mining revenue has risen to '4,756 crore, with Rs. 3,882 crore from minor minerals and '874 crore from major minerals.
