Hyderabad, August 24: The Andhra Pradesh government has stirred a row after it released a reimbursement of Rs 2.88 lakh for the root canal of one its ministers. The cash-strapped state government reimbursed Rs 2.88 lakh for AP Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu’s root canal in Singapore.

Ramakrishnudu reportedly got his root canal surgery done at Azure Dental, 22th Sixth Avenue, Singapore, on April 12 this year. The amount was reimbursed by Dr NTR Vaidya Seva Trust, the health wing of Andhra Pradesh, on August 23.

The government order said, "Medical Attendance – Reimbursement of the medical claim of Rs 2,88,823 in respect of Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Honourable Minister for Finance and Planning, Commercial Taxes and Legislative Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh, for Root Canal Treatment on April 12, 2018, at Azure Dental, 22 Sixth Avenue Singapore."

This comes at a time when the state has been asking Centre to release funds under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The TDP has come under attack on social media with many asking how such a huge amount could be spent on root canal and why the surgery was not done in Andhra Pradesh itself.

According to a report in The News Minute, TDP leader Lanka Dinakar called it a ‘propaganda’ and said that Ramakrishnudu underwent dental treatment in Hyderabad at a clinic in Jubilee Hills but had to rush to Singapore on official work for the state government, and hence, got the rest of the treatment done there as the "pain was unbearable".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2018 03:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).