Does Sharmila spend Rs 20 Lakh daily on Padayatra?
The arrest of YSRTP chief YS Sharmila has heated up Telangana politics. Her comments against Narsampet MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy led to an attack on her convoy vehicles and she was eventually arrested in Hyderabad in dramatic scenes.
Sharmila alleged that Peddi Sudarshan Reddy accumulated great wealth worth billions of rupees. In their first reaction, MLA responded and Sudarshan Reddy denied such accusations. “If Sharmila or any YSRTP leader proves that I have committed corruption, I am ready for anything in the people’s court,” Peddi challenged, returning the charges. “The Sharmila Paadayatra costs Rs 20-30 lakhs per day. Where does he get so much money from?” The TRS MLA was questioned in a live debate on a news channel.
The YSRTP spokesman clarified that the customized bus arranged for Sharmila is owned by her, but declined to elaborate on Paadyatra’s finances. He added that people are voluntarily joining Sharmila’s Padayatra and seeing such a reception, TRS has resorted to cheap politics.
As the TRS MLA alleges, Rs 20 Lakh to Rs 30 Lakh per day for the Paadayatra is a lot of money. Sharmila recently completed 3,500 kilometers in 222 days. Rs 20 Lakh multiplied by 222 days equals Rs 44.40 crore. There were also some reports that the women who walked with Sharmila were offered 300 rupees per day and there were also cases where the women were not paid and protested against the YSRTP leaders.
