Former Andhra Pradesh minister Gudivada Amarnath launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over the inauguration of Bhogapuram International Airport, accusing him of claiming undue credit for a project that was largely executed during the YSRCP government.
“Foundation Stones Before Elections Is Chandrababu’s Habit”
Speaking to the media in Visakhapatnam, Amarnath alleged that Chandrababu Naidu has a habit of laying foundation stones before elections and later claiming credit for projects completed by others. He said it was inappropriate for the Chief Minister to portray Bhogapuram Airport as his government’s achievement.
Welcomes Airport Inauguration by PM Modi
Amarnath welcomed the inauguration of Bhogapuram Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing it as a positive development for the growth of North Andhra. He also congratulated GMR Group for successfully completing the airport project.
However, he criticized both Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for targeting YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during the inauguration event held in the presence of the Prime Minister. He remarked that if misleading statements were made even before the Prime Minister, it reflected poorly on the government’s approach.
“YSRCP Government Played the Key Role”
Amarnath asserted that the real groundwork for Bhogapuram Airport was carried out during the YSRCP government.
According to him, when Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone in 2019, only about 270 acres of land had been acquired. After YSRCP came to power, the government completed the agreement process with GMR in 2020, resolved more than 150 legal disputes, acquired nearly 2,700 acres of land, and accelerated construction.
He said Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation only after all necessary approvals were obtained and had then announced that the airport would be ready by 2026, which has now become a reality.
Questions Over Silence of GMR Representatives
Amarnath also questioned why GMR representatives were not allowed to speak during the inauguration ceremony. He alleged that they were denied an opportunity because they might have revealed the actual sequence of events and the contributions made by the previous government.
Raises Questions on Kuppam Airport
The former minister challenged Chandrababu Naidu to explain the status of the Kuppam Airport, for which a foundation stone was laid in 2019.
He demanded that the Chief Minister clarify what progress had been achieved and also explain his contribution to the development of North Andhra. Amarnath claimed that significant development in the region took place during the YSRCP administration, while Chandrababu treated North Andhra merely as a vote bank.
“Red Book, Guinness Book and Facebook Governance”
In a sarcastic remark, Amarnath alleged that Andhra Pradesh is currently being run through “Red Book, Guinness Book and Facebook governance” rather than constitutional governance.
Taking a final swipe at the Chief Minister, he said Chandrababu Naidu was taking credit for Bhogapuram Airport “like someone performing a grand naming ceremony for a child born to someone else,” implying that the Chief Minister was claiming ownership of a project completed by another government.
