The claims and counter-claims on the implementation of the A.P. Reorganisation Act has apparently blanketed the saner voices within the establishment, like the one of a senior officer who, for obvious reasons, can’t give vent to his feelings publicly.
In a damning indictment of the government’s fiscal profligacy in a private conversation the other day, he asserted that the government was digging its own grave, going to the extent of saying that the whole lot of greenfield projects undertaken by it with undue haste and little foresight were going to land it in serious trouble.
His view is rather implicating that “the growth rate being projected by the State government is unrealistic.” The double-digit growth that was proudly touted as a major achievement was largely due to the temporary boost given by the expenditure in the government sector which, he insisted, was not capital expenditure.
“It is because of this that the growth rate is bloated to some extent, which will have serious consequences for the government,” he said.
The officer said it was going to be a waterloo for the government, which had been basically ill-advised to choose Amaravati as the location for the construction of the capital city.
Shortlived joy
Three top all India service officers were thrilled to bits when the government chose them for service excellence awards, the first ever in the new State. A year later, they do not seem to be that happy. It is not lapse of time that has subsided their excitement but the fact that the next batch of six top rated officers got the same certificates with a difference. Along with the service excellence certificates, they have also been given a ₹5 lakh cash award each. The first batch awardees are naturally upset and have taken the issue to the powers that be. Second batch ‘winners’, however, have their own grouse — one, they have been advised not to encash the cheques any time soon! Secondly, some names have been improperly spelt on the certificates spoiling the fun!!
Ignorance or game-plan?
In the cry over injustice meted out to Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation by the Central Government, is the Jana Sena founder, Pawan Kalyan, trying to create a wedge between the North and South India?
His repeated statements over the last one year and the recent tweets after the meeting of intellectuals to discuss the special status to AP indicate to a certain extent that he is bringing the North-South issue to the fore, argue senior politicians. Is it his pure ignorance that a dangerous separatist feeling he is trying to stoke while demanding better treatment to Andhra Pradesh or is it a deliberate attempt to create a new political image across South India is a question that needs to be analysed seriously.
Overseas flavour to Medaram Jatara
Sammakka Sarakka jatara, the biggest tribal congregation in the country attracted devotees who made their offerings in foreign currency. This is not unusual but the wide global reach of the festival was stunning. As hundies were broken last week, currencies of 32 different countries were recovered from them. Now the foreign currency had reached RBI for exchange.
It is not known whether those who deposited the currency were foreign nationals. It is likely that devotees who made foreign trips deposited their appreciation for the twin goddesses in foreign currency. Medaram jatara collected ₹10 crore this year as against ₹8 crore collected two years ago.
Threat timed to
get traction
College managements have again raised the banner of revolt. As usual, they have chosen this time of the year to threaten boycott of upcoming Intermediate, degree and post-graduate exams in support of their demands. The managements have set a 10-day deadline for conceding the demands, failing which they said they would not only boycott the Intermediate exams commencing on February 28 and degree exams from March 6 but also not let their colleges to be exam centres.
(V. Raghavendra,
V. Geetanath,
R. Ravikanth Reddy,
Nikhila Henry
& N. Rahul)
