Tirupati, August 4: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has called for an investigation into the relaxation of eligibility criteria for bidding on the supply of medicines and medical equipment in hospitals run by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).
The opposition party claims that these relaxed rules will lead to increased corruption and compromise the quality of medicines and medical devices.
Speaking to the media, former TTD chairman and YSRCP leader Bhuma Karunakar Reddy stated that the TTD governing board decided to lower the eligibility criteria for bidding companies from ₹100 crore to ₹25 crore. He added that in some categories, the turnover requirement has been further reduced to ₹15 crore.
The former MLA alleged that this decision was made under the directives of Minister Nara Lokesh, despite objections from a board member representing a well-known pharmaceutical company. He warned that this would compromise the quality of essential medicines and medical devices, asserting that the decision was made solely for the purpose of receiving kickbacks. He claimed that life-saving drugs and expensive medical equipment would be procured under these lenient rules.
He noted that this decision was based on recommendations from an anonymous committee chaired by Jagdish, raising serious questions about their role in the process.
He accused the government of ignoring the standards set by AIIMS and other major medical institutions, allowing low-turnover companies to participate, which he believes reflects corrupt intentions. He dismissed the argument for encouraging broader participation as “baseless.”
YSRCP SC Cell state president and former MLA TJR Sudhakar Babu also criticized the government. He alleged that the Chandrababu administration is resorting to false cases and diversionary politics to suppress questions regarding irregularities in DSC-2025 and protect Education Minister Nara Lokesh.
He stated that leaders elected from marginalized communities, like Alur MLA Virupakshi, were arrested in a midnight police raid like a terrorist while trying to rescue a YSRCP worker who had been attacked by TDP activists.
In a viral video, TDP worker Nagaraju was seen tearing his wife’s nightdress in the presence of police to frame the MLA, while ministers defended this fabricated story. He demanded an explanation regarding the removal of the CCTV hard disk from Virupakshi’s home and called for an immediate judicial inquiry into the raid.
Sudhakar Babu alleged that the government is simultaneously targeting BC, SC, and minority leaders in Uttarakhand, Rayalaseema, and Central Andhra.
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