Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are both signing MoUs and talking about “investment” and “jobs” – but the scale, sector, and strategic vision could not be more different. One government is tying up with Google to build a multi‑billion‑dollar AI and data infrastructure hub; the other is proudly advertising an MoU with a biryani chain as if it were an economic game‑changer.

TN Govt signed an MoU with Junior Kuppanna Kitchens for an investment of ₹100 crore, creating 300 jobs. pic.twitter.com/o2Q0V8ZI3P

— Tamil Nadu Infra (@TamilNaduInfra) December 7, 2025

What Andhra Is Doing With Google

In October 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government signed a landmark MoU with Google in New Delhi for a 1 GW hyperscale AI‑driven data centre in Visakhapatnam. The investment figure being talked about is around ₹87,000–88,000 crore (roughly 10–15 billion USD) over five years, making it one of Google’s largest projects in Asia and its biggest in India.

This single MoU is not just another ribbon‑cutting:

It anchors an “AI City” vision in Vizag, backed by subsea cable connectivity linking India to multiple countries and strengthening digital resilience.​

It is projected to create tens of thousands to nearly 1.8 lakh direct and indirect jobs, while embedding AI skilling programmes for youth in the state.​

Whatever one’s politics, this is strategic: it bets on data, cloud, AI, digital infrastructure and high‑skill employment – sectors that drive long‑term competitiveness, tax revenue and ecosystem effects.

What Tamil Nadu Is Doing With Junior Kuppanna

Around the same time, Tamil Nadu’s official handles and allied promotional pages proudly highlighted an MoU with Junior Kuppanna Kitchens – a well‑known regional restaurant brand – for a ₹100 crore investment and about 300 jobs. On its own terms, this is a perfectly fine, mid‑sized F&B expansion: food processing, industrial kitchens, some export potential, and employment in the services sector.​

The issue is not that the state supports an F&B player; it is that the government’s propaganda machine projects this as a flagship “big push” comparable to serious industrial or technology investments. When you juxtapose a ₹100 crore MoU creating 300 jobs with a neighbour announcing a ₹87,000+ crore AI data hub creating thousands upon thousands of skilled jobs, the contrast in ambition is glaring.

Similar MoUs With “Homegrown” Businesses

We saw this at the “TN Rising” / Coimbatore F&B event, the state announced MoUs with Sri Krishna Sweets, Annapoorna, and Hatsun Agro Products, described as iconic Tamil Nadu brands.​

Indicative commitments reported:

• Sri Krishna Sweets – about ₹100 crore for an export‑oriented sweets unit.
• Annapoorna – about ₹300 crore for a centralised / industrial kitchen network.
• Hatsun – about ₹860 crore to expand dairy processing and allied facilities.​

Aim: build export‑ready industrial kitchens, modern processing units, and R&D so these brands can be positioned like “Tamil Nadu’s answer to MTR/Haldiram’s”.​

The same cluster of announcements mentions E Star Foods and Podaran Foods signing MoUs for new or expanded manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, again framed as taking regional packaged‑food brands to national and export markets.​

How the government frames this

Industries officials and social‑media campaigns frame these MoUs as a “big boost” to Tamil Nadu’s food & beverage sector, with industrial kitchens, export units and modernisation of traditional brands. and that it is helping local brands to be nurtured alongside large external investors, with Coimbatore and other cities positioned as hubs for scaling such companies.​

In substance, these MoUs are modest to mid‑sized (hundreds of crores, hundreds to low thousands of jobs) compared to mega industrial MoUs signed at GIM 2024 (EV, steel, electronics, green energy etc.). and are concentrated in F&B and FMCG rather than high‑tech, but do involve some upstream manufacturing, export orientation and brand‑building.

Scale, Vision And The Message To Investors

MoUs are not everything – many never fully materialise – but they reveal each government’s pitch to the world. Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as a core node in India’s AI and cloud strategy:

Data centre + subsea cable + clean energy + global partners (Google, AdaniConneX, Airtel) signal confidence to other tech and infra investors.​

The presence of Union ministers and top Google leadership at the signing underlines that this is integrated into national‑level digital and AI missions.​​

Tamil Nadu, by contrast, already has a strong industrial base (automobiles, electronics, textiles, MSMEs), but the state’s recent publicised MoUs in this context are dominated by relatively modest F&B and retail plays like Junior Kuppanna or an Annapoorna & Sri Krishna Sweets. That sends a very different message: the government is more comfortable celebrating politically connected, culturally resonant brands than aggressively chasing frontier‑technology anchors.​

Opportunity Cost For Tamil Nadu’s Youth

For a state with lakhs of engineering graduates, IT workers and a significant diaspora in tech, this signalling matters. Andhra’s Google deal explicitly references AI skilling, startup ecosystems, digital transformation of governance, and allied investments from big industry. These are exactly the spaces where high‑end jobs, innovation and exports will grow over the next decade.​

Tamil Nadu’s MoU with Junior Kuppanna, even if genuine and useful within F&B, offers:

• Mostly low‑wage, low‑skill roles in kitchens, outlets and logistics.
• Limited technology transfer or ecosystem spill‑overs beyond food processing and branding.​

Again, the comparison is not to trash a restaurant chain; it is to ask why a government that once boasted of attracting global auto, IT and electronics majors, now chooses to highlight a biryani MoU while another state showcases a Google AI data city.

The Political Optics

There is also a deeper political contrast. In Andhra, the Google MoU is being used to project the state as reform‑oriented, investor‑friendly and future‑facing – whatever the internal debates on land, subsidies or transparency. In Tamil Nadu, the Junior Kuppanna MoU fits into a pattern where the ruling establishment is seen as increasingly focused on symbolism, friendly business groups, and social‑engineering narratives, while being relatively muted on big‑ticket tech or manufacturing anchors.​

Critics are therefore not wrong to pose the question in exactly this sharp way: when one government is signing an MoU with Google to build India’s largest AI data hub, and another is celebrating an MoU with a biryani franchise, what does that tell us about comparative priorities, seriousness, and the kind of future each state is building for its youth?

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The Old Guntur Police have registered a criminal case against Bishop Jayarao Polimera of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Eluru and several others, following allegations of large-scale fund diversion and administrative interference in the Prema Seva Charitable Trust, based in Gowripatnam, West Godavari district. The FIR, dated 15 November 2025, invokes Section 420 IPC read with Section 34, as the alleged offences occurred before the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The case was initiated on the basis of a detailed complaint filed by Guntur-based social worker and RTI activist Potumeraka Lakshmi Durga (40). In her complaint, she accused the Bishop and his associates of misusing religious authority, disrupting the Trust’s long-running free-meal (Nithyannadanam) programme, and diverting public donations meant for serving pilgrims and the poor.

Allegations of Misuse of Funds and Interference

According to the complainant, the Trust, holding FCRA licence No. 010180182, has been providing free meals to thousands of pilgrims for decades and has received nearly ₹7.5 crore in donations, including contributions mobilised from Hindu donors. She alleged that after Bishop Jayarao assumed charge of the Eluru Diocese, he and his aides began interfering in the Trust’s operations, despite having no official role in its administration.

The complaint names Father Raju, Moses, Dhara Ravi, Father John Peter, and contractor Nageshwar Rao among those allegedly involved in diverting donations, withholding meals from visiting pilgrims, and collecting cash from devotees without issuing receipts. These unrecorded collections were allegedly split among the individuals involved, with a portion purportedly routed to the Bishop.

The complainant further claimed that banners were displayed within the Trust premises advising pilgrims not to donate, stating that contributions would be misused. She alleged that announcements were also made on loudspeakers, creating widespread suspicion about the handling of funds.

₹31 Lakh Transfer at Centre of Complaint

One of the key allegations concerns the transfer of ₹31 lakh on 2 May 2025, from the Trust’s bank account to the Diocese’s account through a cheque reportedly signed by an unauthorised person. While the amount was said to have been returned to the Trust after bank officials realised the legal and procedural issues involved, the complainant alleged that the Bishop had influenced bank authorities to avoid consequences.

She characterised the episode as a “clear case of criminal breach of trust” and sought action against all those involved, including the bank manager. She also demanded restoration of the Annadanam programme in accordance with the Trust’s bylaws and donor intent.

Zero FIR Registered; Case Transferred for Investigation

Old Guntur Police registered the complaint as a Zero FIR and transferred it to Devarapally Police Station in West Godavari district, the jurisdiction in which the Trust operates, for a full investigation.

LRPF Files Separate Complaint With Bank Over Alleged Fraudulent Transfer

In a parallel development, the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) filed a separate complaint with the Nodal Officer of South Indian Bank, seeking a probe into what it described as an unauthorised and fraudulent transfer of ₹31 lakh from the Trust to the Eluru Diocese.

LRPF alleged that the cheque used (No. 1005922) carried the signature of an individual not recognised as an authorised signatory by the bank’s records. The organisation stated that the transaction violated banking due-diligence norms, including:

• RBI Master Direction on KYC (2015-16)
• RBI Master Circular on Customer Service (2015-16)
• RBI Internal Control and Anti-Fraud Guidelines

The complaint contended that processing a high-value cheque without proper verification constitutes a breach of Sections 46 and 47A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, which place accountability on bank officials for regulatory lapses.

LRPF argued that the incident also qualifies as a case of “deficiency in service” and “unfair banking practice” under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021, and requested immediate action, including an internal inquiry by the bank.

As per information, Rs 31 Lakhs of Prema Samajam Charitable Trust funds were illegally cheque-Transferred to Eluru Diocese, AP (both FCRA-registered) on 2nd May 2025, using unauthorized signatures.

Wrote to @OfficialSIBLtd higher authorities & @RBI CGM seeking inquiry & action https://t.co/aKesZwkVLq

— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) November 3, 2025

(Source: Arise Bharat)

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Tamil Nadu’s Industries Minister TRB Rajaa has come under sharp scrutiny after his response to the high-profile exit of South Korean sports-shoe manufacturer Hwaseung – a $150-million, 20,000-jobs project that has now shifted from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh’s Kuppam.

As reported in Economic Times, Hwaseung, a key global supplier to Adidas, had signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government in August to set up its first India plant in Tirunelveli. The firm has now abandoned that plan and moved its investment to Andhra Pradesh, citing skilled manpower availability, smoother land access, and long-term alignment with its expansion requirements.

Instead of addressing what went wrong with Tamil Nadu’s investment processes, Minister Rajaa said that the state “would not join a race to the bottom” by matching the aggressive incentive package reportedly offered by Andhra Pradesh – a justification that critics say glosses over deeper issues.

According to senior officials familiar with the negotiations, Andhra Pradesh offered Hwaseung free land and higher resource subsidies. Tamil Nadu was asked to match the package but declined. The company subsequently switched to Kuppam, the constituency of CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, after concluding that Andhra Pradesh provided a better long-term fit.

As reported in The New Indian Express, Rajaa argued that Tamil Nadu would resist participating in “daily competitive games” over incentives and claimed that the state prioritised “high-value jobs” rather than competing aggressively for manufacturing investments. He said land in Tamil Nadu carried “different economic pressures” and could not be handed out casually.

But the minister’s framing has triggered questions about whether the government is deflecting from the actual reasons behind losing a major employment-heavy project. Opposition parties said his stance attempted to shift the narrative instead of accepting that Tamil Nadu was outcompeted on basics such as land facilitation, investment timelines, and responsive negotiations. Business chambers privately pointed out that footwear manufacturing is a labour-intensive sector ideally suited for southern districts, and losing 20,000 potential jobs in a region like Tirunelveli is not a trivial issue to dismiss.

In contrast, Andhra Pradesh’s investment agencies moved swiftly after Hwaseung first approached Invest India. The company said India was chosen over multiple countries due to its young workforce and that Andhra Pradesh edged out Tamil Nadu because it better aligned with its manpower and expansion needs. Hwaseung has already been allotted 100 acres in two Kuppam villages.

Rajaa reiterated that Tamil Nadu remained “the most trustworthy and most industrialised state,” accusing opposition “proxies” of belittling the government’s investment record. However, the criticism has persisted: while Andhra’s proactive pitch secured a flagship export-oriented project, Tamil Nadu’s response appeared defensive, vague, and dismissive of the economic stakes involved.

For now, the departure of a high-volume employer like Hwaseung and the minister’s attempt to frame it as a principled choice has intensified questions about whether Tamil Nadu under the DMK government is losing its edge in a competitive investment landscape.

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The Andhra Pradesh government has asserted its support for next-generation GST reforms proposed by the Centre. Participating in the 56th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav stated that the State government fully supports the reforms being proposed by the centre.

He called it a measure taken in the best interest of the ‘poorest of the poor.’ The two-day meeting is expected to take up a major revamp of GST slabs, compliance simplification measures, and next-generation reforms.

Speaking about the Andhra Pradesh government’s stand, Finance Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Payyavula Keshav said the reforms were in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day announcement of a “Diwali gift” for the people.

“As an alliance partner, the Andhra Pradesh government supports these reforms in the GST sector being proposed by the Government of India. Most of them are aimed at helping the common man and the poorest of the poor. They cover critical sectors such as food, education, health, steel, cement, and textiles,” Minister Keshav said.

Being a crucial NDA ally, he added, the TDP president and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has also backed the reforms, calling them a significant step toward reviving the economy and improving people’s lives.

“The reforms are aimed at expanding the Indian economy while rationalising the tax rates on items of common consumption, reducing costs for households and providing relief to millions,” the Minister noted.

“The reforms are being suggested with the intention of ensuring benefits are passed on to the customer and end-consumers. From the Government of India to all participating states, including even opposition voices, there is a shared understanding that the consumer must benefit,” the Finance Minister emphasised.

-IANS

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday, criticised the opposition parties for fielding a candidate for Vice-Presidential election, knowing well that his defeat is certain. He said it was not unfair on part of the Opposition to expect TDP support despite the fact that TDP is a partner in the NDA governments, both at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister Naidu was talking to media persons after calling on NDA candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, C. P. Radhakrishnan, here. Accompanied by Union Ministers belonging to the TDP and some party MPs, Chief Minister Naidu met C.P. Radhakrishnan and extended support to him.

“Why announce a Telugu leader as Vice-Presidential candidate knowing defeat was certain,” he asked while questioning the decision of INDIA bloc to field former Supreme Court judge B. Sudershan Reddy as their candidate.

“Politics not important. TDP was part of the NDA even before the elections. Once NDA fielded its candidate, why did they field a candidate when the defeat is certain,” he asked.

“How can they expect? We are in an alliance with NDA. How can it be expected that we will support another candidate?” the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister remarked when his reaction was sought to an appeal made by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to TDP and all other parties from Telugu states to back the candidature of Sudershan Reddy.

Stating that TDP is for Telugu community, the TDP Chief recalled that when former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao contested Lok Sabha elections, TDP made the sacrifice for the Telugu leader though it was fighting the Congress.

“Telugu Desam Party is for Telugu community. That is a different issue. We are in alliance. Our party is having ethics, credibility. We have built this credibility over a period of five decades. How can you expect all these things,” he asked.

“If anybody compares candidature-wise, he (Radhakrishnan) is the best candidate everybody has to support. If the majority is there, it is a very dignified post,” he said and exuded confidence that the NDA candidate will win with comfortable majority.

-IANS

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Leading by example, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his family members have come forward to become mentors under the state government’s zero poverty initiative P4.

The Chief Minister and his family would personally adopt Bangaru Kutumbams, as the beneficiary families under the programme are called. During a review meeting held on Friday at the Secretariat on P4 initiative, the Chief Minister announced that he and members of his family would actively participate in the programme He stated that this personal involvement would inspire others and encourage more affluent citizens to come forward as mentors.

The Chief Minister reiterated that by August 15, efforts must be made to ensure the adoption of 15 lakh Bangaru Kutumbams by mentors. As of now, 5,74,811 families have been adopted and 57,503 individuals have registered as mentors. Officials informed him that an additional two lakh mentors are required to reach the goal. Palnadu district has recorded the highest number of adoptions, while Visakhapatnam has the fewest.

The Zero Poverty P4 programme is being implemented through three models. In the first model, a mentor adopts a Bangaru Kutumbam and provides non-financial assistance.

This approach does not have a time limit. The second model, titled Fund a Need, is designed to provide direct financial support to Kutumbams with specific monetary needs and is time-bound. The third model involves adopting entire villages or mandals to fulfill broader community needs and organise developmental and welfare activities. This model is aligned with corporate social responsibility and is intended specifically for corporate participation.

The Chief Minister said that the P4 initiative is evolving into a people’s movement and reiterated that the empowerment of poor families is a core objective of the coalition government. He urged officials to implement the most effective strategies across all regions to ensure the success of the programme.

He called on Telugu people around the world to become part of the initiative and advised officials to engage the AP NRT Society to involve the diaspora. He also stressed the responsibility of district collectors to coordinate with corporate organisations and encourage their participation. Emphasisng the importance of local engagement, he suggested that villages be taken as the basic unit and that NRIs and industrialists from those regions adopt local Bangaru Kutumbams. In the absence of local mentors, he directed officials to establish connections with non-local supporters.

To accommodate donors at the state level, the Chief Minister proposed the creation of a common fund that would be used to provide support to Bangaru Kutumbams. The Chief Minister directed that the survey identifying the top priorities of Bangaru Kutumbams be completed by August 10. He emphasised the need to gather feedback on both financial and non-financial assistance provided by mentors.

Officials must instill trust among mentors and ensure that all information about Bangaru Kutumbams and mentors is accurately recorded at the village and ward secretariat levels. Only then, he said, can justice be delivered to all beneficiaries. He also instructed P4 coordinators to use online platforms to raise awareness among Bangaru Kutumbams. Adopted Kutumbams are receiving timely updates through automated messages. Officials also briefed the Chief Minister on the digital promotion campaign being implemented to expand public awareness of the P4 initiative via social media and other platforms.

–IANS

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Amid the ongoing political storm surrounding the alleged imposition of Hindi, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has made a strong case for English as the medium of instruction in schools across the country, subtly pushing back against what he termed a misplaced debate over Hindi versus regional languages.

Addressing reporters, Jagan Reddy emphasized that the real transformation needed in India’s education system is not resisting Hindi but ensuring that students, particularly from government schools, are equipped with fluency in English to compete globally.

“The change that should be brought is not Hindi,” he said. “Hindi can be a language and can be learned. But the medium of education should be English. This should be the biggest change if India were to move forward and leap forward.”

With this, Jagan Reddy effectively rebutted the anti-Hindi rhetoric propagated by Dravidianist parties, which have repeatedly framed the promotion of Hindi as a threat to regional identities. He argued instead that the primary concern should be the empowerment of students from economically weaker sections through access to quality English education.

“English is the global language,” he said. “Until and unless government schools change and students learn to speak fluent English, they can never be competitive.”

Reddy suggested a three-language model, placing mother tongue first, and leaving room for Hindi or any other language as per student preference. “Once the medium is established as English, you can have language one, language two, and language three, depending on the choice of the children. The mother tongue should be compulsory as the first language. As a second language, one can pick Hindi. There is nothing wrong in it,” he said.

The YSRCP chief also cited his own educational experience to make the point. “My school was an English medium school. But my first language was Hindi, and the second was Telugu. That’s a different issue,” he remarked, implicitly challenging the notion that learning Hindi is equivalent to cultural surrender.

While political parties in Tamil Nadu and some parts of the South of India continue to resist Hindi under the banner of linguistic autonomy, Jagan’s statements mark a significant departure, highlighting a pragmatic, student-centric approach over linguistic identity politics.

(With inputs from ABPLive)

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Andhra Pradesh Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Raghu Rama Krishna Raju has demanded action against YSR Congress Party leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy for his alleged inappropriate remarks against women from the state capital Amaravati.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader wrote a letter to Director General of Police on Tuesday, seeking action against Sajjala for the remarks allegedly made at a press conference on Monday. The Deputy Speaker alleged that YSRCP State coordinator Sajjala made casteist remarks while defending the comments made by ‘Sakshi TV’ anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who was arrested by the police on Monday for the alleged derogatory remarks against Amaravati women during a debate show aired on the channel. Raju said Sajjala’s remarks have hurt the feelings of thousands of people in Amaravati.

He demanded that a case be booked against him under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He also urged the DGP to ensure that no one makes such comments in future. Sajjala had made some objectionable remarks while defending Srinivasa Rao and analyst Krishnam Raju, who have been booked for their comments about Amaravati women during a debate on the channel owned by YSRCP president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Taking strong exception to the arrest of Srinivasa Rao, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy had termed it a blot on democracy. The YSRCP leader stated that the anchor, while moderating a debate on a TV channel, had cautioned the analyst about passing the remarks, which were based on a media report. The presenter did not extend the discussion on the point, nor was it highlighted further. Sajjala, a former advisor to the state government, accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of a sinister design to blow it up into a major issue. He alleged that despite Srinivasa Rao’s clarification and analyst Krishnam Raju’s explanation, the issue was widely circulated.

“From Naidu to Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, TDP leaders and their propaganda machinery amplified it in a concerted, organised manner-culminating in the journalist’s arrest,” Sajjala said. He pointed out that the TV channel distanced itself from the analyst’s remarks, and clearly stated that it does not endorse such statements, which were Krishnam Raju’s personal views. Sajjala said the TDP and its media network escalated the issue, targeting the YSRCP leadership and family. Instead of ending the matter with the clarification and regret expressed, dissent was deliberately stirred from Srikakulam to Chittoor to divert public attention from the government’s failure to implement schemes, he said.

–IANS

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In a significant development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has refused to renew the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the Rural Development Trust (RDT), a prominent NGO based in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

IMPORTANT:
Following our relentless complaints, the Ministry of Home Affairs has finally cracked down on the controversial Rural Development Trust (RDT) in Andhra Pradesh by refusing to renew its FCRA license (FC No: 010120001) after a thorough investigation. https://t.co/xjtvwsx0Vi

— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) April 29, 2025

The move follows a detailed complaint filed by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal activism group, in March 2024, alleging serious violations of FCRA norms, misuse of government funds, and involvement in religious conversion activities.

#Thread
Complaint filed with @HMOIndia on #DataBreach.

From 2014-15 to 2017-18, AP Govt's Housing Corporation Ltd and Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Dept's funding to Rural Development Trust for project implementation is Rs 2055965400 i.e, > Rs 205 Cr
Source: Darpan Portal https://t.co/LD08UuW8Pp pic.twitter.com/LPPq3V4jjE

— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) March 24, 2024

The Rural Development Trust, established in 1978 by Spanish Jesuit missionary Vicente Ferrer, is currently led by his son Moncho Ferrer, who is also a foreign national. The trust had been operating under FCRA Registration No: 010120001. It is also linked to the Vicente Ferrer Foundation Inc., a U.S.-registered public charity chaired by Moncho Ferrer, which is one of RDT’s major donors.

Recent amendments to FCRA prohibit a key functionary of an Indian recipient organization from holding any official position in the donor entity. The complaint raised concerns over this dual role, citing non-compliance.

Among the most serious allegations is the misuse of foreign donations and state-provided financial assistance for religious conversion. The complaint claims that free housing colonies built under welfare schemes were used to facilitate Christian missionary activities, including the construction of churches.

Between 2014–15 and 2017–18 alone, the Andhra Pradesh government had allocated over ₹205 crore to RDT through its Housing Corporation Ltd and Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Department for various projects.

The complaint also pointed to potential violations of data privacy laws. Reports submitted by the Vicente Ferrer Foundation (VFF) to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) indicate that personal details—including minors’ educational performance and health data—were shared with foreign donors under the Child Sponsorship Program. Sponsors reportedly received biannual updates from children about their personal lives, raising concerns about the exposure of sensitive information to foreign entities.

Adding to the controversy, the MHA’s investigation reportedly uncovered misappropriation of at least ₹26 crore. This amount was collected as patient fees at the NGO’s hospitals in Kalyanadurgam and Bathalapally, both established using foreign funds. However, the money was not routed through the FCRA-designated bank accounts, a clear violation of the Act.

RDT is also implicated in misappropriation of foreign funds amounting to Rs 26 crore. This sum, generated from patient fees at its 'free hospitals' in Kalyanadurgam & Bathalapally – both established using foreign funds, was not deposited into the FCRA-designated bank accounts. https://t.co/tlwF28NTPf pic.twitter.com/y5vJRT8HNd

— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) April 30, 2025

In light of these findings, the MHA has refused to renew RDT’s FCRA license. The decision is seen as part of a broader crackdown on NGOs accused of flouting FCRA rules and misusing foreign contributions.

The LRPF welcomed the government’s action and urged further investigation into the trust’s financial dealings and activities, citing national and social security concerns.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the ‘Zero Poverty-P4’ initiative and expressed confidence that this programme will be a game changer in society.

Launching the programme in Amaravati along with the Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on the occasion of Telugu New Year Ugadi, he stated that P4 is an extraordinary scheme that will create history. Addressing a public meeting, the Chief Minister said that any programme that is taken up on Ugadi day will certainly become a resounding success.

He made it clear that P4 is being launched only with the sole objective of alleviating poverty. Last week, he said that P4 is aimed at enabling the wealthy to support the underprivileged sections of society.

The platform is open to everyone who comes forward voluntarily to offer support to the poor. The government will bring both donors and beneficiaries onto a common platform. In the first phase, 20 lakh families will benefit under the scheme. He mentioned that the per capita income during the previous fiscal was Rs 2,66,995, while this year it is Rs 2,98,065.

He was confident that this would go up to Rs 5,42,985 by 2028-29 and reach Rs 55 lakh by 2047. Chandrababu said that he would be completing 50 years in public life in another three years.

“For the first time, I became MLA in 1978, and in another three years, I will be completing 50 years as MLA. My entire life is dedicated to you, who have been supporting me for the past five decades. I have become MLA for nine times, of which four times as Chief Minister. For 15 years, I was the Leader of the Opposition and 30 years as party president. No one else in the country has got the respect which I received,” he said.

He recalled that TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao was a person with discipline and perseverance, and he never relaxed till he reached his target. He stated that he was raised under such a strict, disciplined personality.

“For the past 47 years, I have been into public life, and I always thought about the progress of the State. I wished that the lifestyle of the people should be transformed,” he added. Observing that he always believed in good governance and clean politics, the Chief Minister said that he had introduced several programmes only with a view to bringing in changes in the people’s lives.

“I have introduced Prajala Vaddaku Palana, Janma Bhoomi and the IT revolution. I do not know anything else except work, and I do not have any kind of habits. After waking up every day, I always think about what kind of programmes will bring total transformation in the lives of the people,” he said.

Making it clear that he had never committed any kind of mistake and will never do it, the Chief Minister said he too has a family and that the Heritage was founded and handed over to the family members so that they will not earn any livelihood through politics. “They do not depend on me, and in fact, I depend on them. If the family is financially independent, we will be brave. My wife does not know politics, and I will not enter into any kind of business,” Chandrababu said.

–IANS

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The post ‘Zero Poverty – P4’ To Be A Game Changer For Society, Says Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu appeared first on The Commune.