NEW DELHI: Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh’s IT ministers have exchanged sharp words over Google’s proposed $15 billion AI data centre in Visakhapatnam.Priyank Kharge criticised Andhra Pradesh for offering “massive subsidies” to the tech giant, calling the state’s model an “economic disaster in disguise.”He said the incentives – including full GST reimbursement, subsidised land, water, and power – are worth around Rs 22,000 crore.
“Bengaluru has built its IT strength without selling its future,” he added, highlighting the state’s focus on innovation, talent, and policy stability.Andhra IT Minister Nara Lokesh responded with a playful jab on X, saying: “They say Andhra food is spicy. Seems some of our investments are too. Some neighbours are already feeling the burn!” His post, which included chilli and fire emojis, quickly went viral.Responding to the ‘burn’ tweet, Kharge Jr said: “Everyone enjoys a bit of spice in their food, but just as nutritionists recommend a balanced diet, economists too advocate a balanced budget. Whatever said and done, we will always be: ‘Neighbour’s envy and Owner’s pride.’”This is not the first clash between the two ministers. Last month, Lokesh invited a logistics firm considering relocation from north Bengaluru to Anantapur, highlighting Andhra’s aerospace and defence ecosystem. Kharge responded that weaker ecosystems “feed off stronger ones,” adding that desperate moves “expose more weakness than strength.” Lokesh hit back, urging that “arrogance, like potholes, should be fixed first before the journey gets tripped up.”The exchange underscores the growing competition between Indian states for large tech investments and the debate over economic incentives versus sustainable growth.
