Opposition condemns as Telangana buys 32 cars for bureaucrats

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the Telangana government came under heat from the opposition for acquiring a fleet of luxury automobiles for IAS officers in the state.

On Sunday, Pragati Bhavan received 32 new luxury multi-utility vehicles for distribution to extra collectors stationed in the state. With the state exchequer in terrible shape due to low income and a lack of medical facilities, the allotment of automobiles, each anticipated to cost around Rs 25 lakh, has raised some questions.

Condemning the action, BJP spokesperson K Krishna Sagar Rao expressed his party's strong opposition to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's (KCR) "criminal splurging of public exchequer" to "appease bureaucrats" in the state.

How will Chief Minister KCR explain spending over ₹11 crores on 32 ultra-luxury automobiles for Telangana State's extra collectors?" the BJP leader challenged.

He described the plan to acquire ultra-luxury automobiles for more collectors as "horrendous and unimaginable" given the current public health scenario, claiming that the Telangana Chief Minister is engaging in a "huge waste of public money" in the midst of a pandemic.

"Finance Minister Harish Rao recently stated that the state has lost enormous income because of COVID-19 lockdowns and that he wants greater Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) restrictions to obtain additional loans," Krishna Sagar Rao added.

The BJP criticized the Finance Minister's budgetary prudence in light of the current economic circumstances, pointing out that his department is distributing crores of rupees for ultra-luxury automobiles.

The money spent on fancy automobiles, according to Krishna Sagar, might have been utilised to extend beds or offer free care to the underprivileged. He urged that the decision be reversed immediately, and that the government halt the car purchases.

"What is the Chief Minister expecting from the extra collectors with this blatant bureaucrats' appeasement splurge?" he said, blaming the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) administration for the "brazen appeasement" of bureaucrats.

Telangana Congress has also expressed its displeasure with the action. Sravan Dasoju, a spokesperson for the AICC, described the Telangana government's act as "the pinnacle of reckless spending."

"The TRS administration, led by KCR, has proven to be extremely reckless with public funds. As a result, KCR has pulled Telangana's surplus state into a financial trap, with a massive debt of almost 4 lakh crores" according to the Congressman.

Dasoju remarked that "At a time when the state is facing a terrible financial crisis as a result of COVID, KCR has the arrogance to acquire 32 luxury automobiles for his extra collectors at a cost of 30 lakhs apiece. They already have government vehicles that are in fine working order with them. What was the point of buying new automobiles in the first place?"

The Telangana Chief Minister was subsequently cornered by the Congress leader, who said that he intends to "allure" collectors with new automobiles and turn them into "mere spectators" of his misgovernance.

"The TRS administration is unable to increase the number of beds in government hospitals due to a lack of funds. They don't have enough money to buy buses for public transportation, let alone pay contractors and settle debts that have been waiting for months. It is utterly intolerable that KCR is squandering public funds during this time of crisis "Dasoju stated.

He condemned the wasteful expenditure, saying, "We're wondering if the KCR government worked with the vehicle firm and dealers on the ill-fated transaction for crores during the current economic downturn. I'm wondering if the state government made a shady arrangement with the auto business to receive financial relief."

He also reminded the Chief Minister that he is merely the caretaker, not the owner, of public funds.