Jagan slams Naidu over ‘inflated’ budget, says TTD ghee scam happened in Naidu’s tenure

Vijayawada: YSRCP president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the state budget for 2026-27 was "a bundle of lies" and accused chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of attempting to divert attention from alleged irregularities in the supply of adulterated ghee.Addressing the media here on Thursday, Jagan claimed that all irregularities in ghee procurement by TTD occurred during Naidu's tenure and alleged a nexus between a dairy owned by Naidu's family and Indapur Foods. He alleged that disqualified firms were allowed to take part in the tenders, rejected tankers were accepted, and contracts were awarded at inflated rates during Naidu's regime.The former CM said that Naidu's family-owned dairy altered its status from a manufacturing unit to a co-manufacturing unit after Indapur Foods' name surfaced in the scandal, and awarded a ghee supply contract at Rs 650 per kg, even though the same firm earlier supplied at Rs 278 and Rs 321 per kg. He alleged that during the previous TDP term, favoured firms were encouraged and restrictions were relaxed.Referring to the Tirupati laddu controversy, Jagan asserted that the issue was rooted in alleged corruption in ghee supply during the previous TDP regime, and that documentary evidence was in the public domain. He accused Naidu of politicising the issue and "dragging God into politics" to shield alleged irregularities.Jagan said the figures in the budget did not add up and alleged that projected growth rates were inflated without corresponding improvements in per capita income or living standards. He charged that allocations for key welfare schemes were inadequate and that the number of beneficiaries was steadily reduced.He alleged that farmers, students, women, youth and employees were cheated, with sectors such as health, education, agriculture and welfare receiving insufficient support. He further claimed that the number of pension beneficiaries declined, and that allocations indicated further reductions."The govt mismanaged state finances and altered the budget format to obscure actual borrowing figures. While our govt implemented manifesto promises, the present administration is failing to honour its commitments. People across sections are disillusioned," said Jagan.