CPI(M) State secretary P. Madhu on Monday said that the Narendra Modi government was delaying legitimate release of funds to Andhra Pradesh by misusing its powers. To further its agenda, the Centre was using institutions such as the Finance Commission as tools, he alleged.
Speaking to media persons here, Mr. Madhu said the Centre, instead of granting the Special Category Status, a legitimate demand of people, was using coercive tactics to aggravate the issue and harm the fledgling State.
“Even the office of Governor and the Intelligence Bureau are being sought to be controlled by the Centre. We advise the TDP not to succumb to the pressure. It is sad that the present Governor is holding parleys with the Chief Minister advising him on how to deal with the Centre.”
He said it was unfortunate that the Governor was misusing his office by meddling with the administration. “We are paying a heavy price for the acts of the TDP which supported GST, demonetisation and other decisions of the NDA government when it was an alliance partner.”
Mr,. Madhu said the Centre was planning to probe the all the welfare schemes of the State, citing misappropriation of funds. He said State faced a bleak future as the Centre was planning to tighten the screws on the finances.
He condemned the atrocities on women, Dalits and other minorities and suggested that the State government tighten the laws as done by the Kerala government. “The State government should also follow the Kerala example of providing jobs to the downtrodden in the Endowments Department,” he added.
Electricity bandh
The senior Left leader appealed to people to heed the call of the Prathyeka Hoda Sadhana Samiti for ‘bijli bandh’ by switching off lights on April 24 (Tuesday) from 7 pm to 7.30 pm to express resentment over denial of the SCS.
Mr. Madhu flayed Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao for his alleged partisan attitude. “He is behaving like a Telugu Desam worker and even taking part in party programmes.”
The CPI(M) leader asked the State government to make public the expenditure of the recent one-day ‘deeksha’ undertaken by the Chief Minister.
