Is 'iPhone Babu' the latest avatar?

The 'frail finances' of Andhra Pradesh was an issue fervently discussed during the budget session and the treasury benches led by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu painted a grim picture of the state revenues, pleading immediate transfer of funds from the Centre.

Yet on Friday, the last day of the session, all 225 MLAs and MLCs of the state legislature walked out cheerfully with a gift of latest iPhone 6 in one hand and Tirupati laddus in the other.

The iPhone largesse has cost the exchequer about Rs. 1.25 crore. This jamboree comes at a time when the government has claimed to be suffering a deficit of about Rs 15, 000 crore and is going for an overdraft from the RBI for resources to run the state.

The tradition of budget session gifts for legislators is nothing new and was prevalent even before the bifurcation of the state.

The expensive gifts were handed out to the lawmakers even as Naidu asked the common man to make sacrifices for the new state and sought donations for the new capital.

This extravaganza is nothing new. During the first budget session of new Andhra last year, legislators were given iPads and printers – the bill for which ran close to Rs 1 crore.

confuzzled dude wrote:

The 'frail finances' of Andhra Pradesh was an issue fervently discussed during the budget session and the treasury benches led by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu painted a grim picture of the state revenues, pleading immediate transfer of funds from the Centre.

Yet on Friday, the last day of the session, all 225 MLAs and MLCs of the state legislature walked out cheerfully with a gift of latest iPhone 6 in one hand and Tirupati laddus in the other.

The iPhone largesse has cost the exchequer about Rs. 1.25 crore. This jamboree comes at a time when the government has claimed to be suffering a deficit of about Rs 15, 000 crore and is going for an overdraft from the RBI for resources to run the state.

The tradition of budget session gifts for legislators is nothing new and was prevalent even before the bifurcation of the state.

The expensive gifts were handed out to the lawmakers even as Naidu asked the common man to make sacrifices for the new state and sought donations for the new capital.

This extravaganza is nothing new. During the first budget session of new Andhra last year, legislators were given iPads and printers – the bill for which ran close to Rs 1 crore.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cash-crunched-andhra-splurges-on-iphones-for-legislators/article1-1331492.aspx

More like 'Apple Babu'

b_A wrote:
I was reminded of the bikini joke ,when you decided to hide this from that article.

b_A wrote:
Jokes aside, I am puzzled by CBN's బీద అరుపులు in contrast to extravagant spending like sankranti kanuka, 43 % hike to employees,wasting money on CM's office in hyderabad etc. There is not even a token measure to show some austerity. At least kcr is trying to curb some wastage in bogus ration cards and fees reimbursement schemes via bogus engg colleges. None of that from CBN. AP వాళ్ళ దౌర్భాగ్యం ఎమిటంటే, there is no good alternative to rendu kalla CBN or corrupt jagan.

confuzzled dude wrote:

b_A wrote:
I was reminded of the bikini joke ,when you decided to hide this from that article.

It would have been hiding had I not provided the link to the article.

b_A wrote:
Jokes aside, I am puzzled by CBN's బీద అరుపులు in contrast to extravagant spending like sankranti kanuka, 43 % hike to employees,wasting money on CM's office in hyderabad etc. There is not even a token measure to show some austerity. At least kcr is trying to curb some wastage in bogus ration cards and fees reimbursement schemes via bogus engg colleges. None of that from CBN. AP వాళ్ళ దౌర్భాగ్యం ఎమిటంటే, there is no good alternative to rendu kalla CBN or corrupt jagan.

Feku Modi & communal BJP ain't any better option for India, either.

b_A wrote:
Modi may be a feku but he has a huge advantage. The Congress( UPA if you want to call it that) has screwed up so badly in all fronts that he just needs to have an average performance to look good in comparison. Most of the people voted for him out of hatred for congress. Very few believed that he was the messiah.

confuzzled dude wrote:

b_A wrote:
Modi may be a feku but he has a huge advantage. The Congress( UPA if you want to call it that) has screwed up so badly in all fronts that he just needs to have an average performance to look good in comparison. Most of the people voted for him out of hatred for congress. Very few believed that he was the messiah.

You couldn't have been more wrong; he definitely was not seen as a messiah but majority for sure believes that he is the next avatar of Lord Vishnu, a savior.

Hellsangel wrote:

confuzzled dude wrote:

b_A wrote:
Modi may be a feku but he has a huge advantage. The Congress( UPA if you want to call it that) has screwed up so badly in all fronts that he just needs to have an average performance to look good in comparison. Most of the people voted for him out of hatred for congress. Very few believed that he was the messiah.

You couldn't have been more wrong; he definitely was not seen as a messiah but majority for sure believes that he is the next avatar of Lord Vishnu, a savior.

They do, Comrade? They told you that?