The Revanth Reddy government has been spending huge amounts towards its publicity and media advertisements. Revenue and I&PR Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said in the Assembly that in the last16 months since the Congress came to power, advertisements worth Rs. 200 crore have been given to various newspapers and TV channels.
The minister was answering a question asked by former Minister Harish Rao to tell how much ads have been given to various newspapers and channels since the Congress came to power. However, the government seems to be following the previous YS Jaganmohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh, blocking media outlets belonging to opposition parties.
In the same way, the daily newspaper ‘Namaste Telangana’, owned by BRS leaders, has not given a single ad since the Congress came to power. This has been reflecting that the government is not following standards norms in release of advertisements.
Responding to a question asked by former minister and MLA Gangula Kamalakar and other MLAs on house plots for journalists, Minister Ponguleti said that they are in a dilemma with the Supreme Court verdict regarding journalists and will take a decision to do justice to journalists without any legal difficulties.
He said that after the appointment of 10,954 GPOs is completed, they will think about regularizing VRAs and providing jobs to their children. He clarified that the pending transfers of MROs and Deputy MROs will be completed in two to three days, but they will not be sent to their own districts.
He said that Bhu Bharati will be implemented from an auspicious time. He said that they are trying to link up with women’s groups for the initial cost of Rs 1 lakh for Indiramma houses and provide that amount to the poor who cannot afford even one lakh rupees. He said that Indiramma will provide funds for the pending double bedroom houses and provide the beneficiaries with the facility to complete them.
