The CPI has accused the government of squandering public money to impress Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram. In a statement on Friday, its State secretary G. Eswaraiah alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was making extraordinary efforts to win the Prime Minister’s favour by organising the inauguration ceremony on a grand scale, and criticised the government for spending crores of rupees on arrangements for the event despite the State’s mounting debt burden.

The CPI(M) criticised the government for allegedly disrupting academic activities and mobilising students for Mr. Modi's visit to inaugurate the airport.

In a statement, its State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said that schools in the Godavari and North Coastal agency regions had been closed for two days allegedly to facilitate the movement of students to the venue. He said tribal girl students had also been brought to the event to perform the traditional Dhimsa dance.

He alleged that deployment of RTC buses and vehicles belonging to educational institutions had caused inconvenience to the public and disrupted classes. He also alleged that several students faced difficulties in obtaining food and drinking water.

The CPI(M) leader further criticised the expenditure being incurred on the inauguration ceremony. Ministers, legislators, senior officials and government employees had been diverted from their regular duties to participate in the event, the party alleged. Mr. Srinivasa Rao demanded an immediate end to the “extravagant” official programmes organised at public expense.

Published - July 31, 2026 07:21 pm IST