Jagan defends stand, says MAVIGUN is economical, practical

Tadepalli: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has lambasted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his 'mal-governance and for encouraging perpetrators of violence and atrocities' against women by not taking action against them. Addressing the West Godavari district party cadre here on Wednesday, he justified the party's stand on Amaravati and strongly supported the demand for development of Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur (MAVIGUN) corridor as the capital region.

Hinting at a Statewide padayatra before the presentation of the third budget by the coalition government, he said YSRCP cadre will expose him completely.

The State is steeped in corruption and there is no accountability. "While Naidu is pushing Amaravati, we suggested Plan B after our original Plan A of three capitals to ensure balanced regional growth," he pointed out.

Jagan said they proposed that the 110 km Machilipatnam–Vijayawada–Guntur corridor be developed into a capital city as it is close to a national highway, has Bandar Port which they had developed, and an international airport. It would be economic, feasible and cost just ten percent of the proposed Rs2 lakh crore for Amaravati.

He alleged that Naidu is firm on Amaravati as it will benefit his own people by paying exorbitant rates of Rs14,000 per sq ft while the rest of India pays around Rs4,500 per sq ft on construction of various buildings. Part of the mobilisation advance is coming back as kickbacks.