Srikakulam: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is more interested in getting kickbacks from various projects than in working for the welfare of farmers in the state, YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

Addressing a massive public meeting in Hiramandalam area under Pathapatnam assembly constituency here on Friday, he said the chief minister considers as useless allocating Rs 1000 crore for the farmers' welfare. He further said that funds meant for the farmers were being diverted for other projects.

"For instance, nearly 90 per cent of the Vamsadhara Phase II has already been completed during YS Rajasekhara Reddy regime. Only 10 per cent of the work is remaining. But, the project has been in limbo for the past three years. As a result, the cost has got escalated to Rs 400 crore. The project is nowhere near completion," he said.

He said the TDP Government was offering lame excuses like spike up in fuel costs, sand prices and labour rates for not completing Vamsadhara. He added that the total debt burden of the state was Rs 97000 crore in 2014. After Chandrababu became the chief minister, the debt burden rose to a whopping Rs 2.16 lakh crore.

A villager expressing happiness over meeting YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy at Hiramandalam.

"All the pending projects in Srikakulam need just Rs 1000 crore. Chandrababu could have allocated the amount and ensure that all the projects were completed. But, he chose not to allocate the requisite funds as there were no immediate kickbacks," YS Jagan pointed out.