Mon Jan 13 23:39:00 UTC 2025: ## Minister Ridicules Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Sankranti Remarks
**Vijayawada, January 14, 2025** – Andhra Pradesh Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy today criticized former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his comments on the Sankranti festival, accusing Reddy of misunderstanding its significance. Parthasarathy emphasized that Sankranti is a celebration for farmers and highlighted the current government’s prompt payment of procured grain, contrasting it with alleged delays under the previous YSRCP administration.
Addressing a press conference, Parthasarathy stated that the NDA government’s swift payment of ₹6,569 crore to 4,56,873 farmers for 28,83,238 metric tonnes of grain is a source of joy for the agricultural community during Sankranti. He dismissed claims by the YSRCP that the festival belonged solely to the ruling coalition as “absurd” and reflective of their frustration.
The Minister further cited the increase in pensions under the NTR Bharosa scheme (from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000, benefiting over 63 lakh people) and the distribution of subsidized gas cylinders under the Deepam scheme (reaching 82,97,371 individuals with a subsidy of ₹639 crore) as evidence of the government’s commitment to the welfare of the people. He attributed the dissatisfaction within the YSRCP to alleged leadership issues within the party.
First Piper 