CPI's Ramakrishna Urges Chandrababu to Release White Paper on Central Funds

CPI Andhra Pradesh state secretary K. Ramakrishna has written a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, urging the government to release a white paper on the funds allocated to the state by the central government for the 2024-25 fiscal year. In the letter, he questioned whether the state had indeed received ₹3,324 crore less than expected. He asserted that the state's funding had decreased compared to the previous year.

Ramakrishna criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the central government had allocated ₹3 lakh crore to Andhra Pradesh, calling it misleading and accusing the government of withholding the actual facts.

Regarding the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Ramakrishna pointed out that the central government itself has acknowledged that the plant has debts amounting to ₹17,000 crore. He argued that offering a financial package of just ₹11,500 crore would not be a viable solution to the crisis. Instead, he called for a permanent resolution to safeguard the plant, including the allocation of captive iron ore mines. Additionally, he suggested merging the plant with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

Ramakrishna further stated that doubts persist about whether the privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant will truly be halted.