TDP State president and Energy Minister K. Kala Venkata Rao on Saturday dismissed the demand of the BJP to arrest Hindupur MLA N. Balakrishna for his outbursts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’, and said such remarks were natural when agitations were taken up over emotive issues such as Special Category Status (SCS).
Comparing the protests over SCS to the Jai Andhra and the ‘Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku’ agitations, he said the reasons for the outbursts were the denial to accord SCS to the State and fulfil the promises made such as new railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam.
Mr. Rao said despite criticism, the deeksha by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu evoked overwhelming response from all sections of people.
Explaining why the TDP had aligned with the BJP in the 2014 elections, he said they thought it would benefit the State in getting SCS and funds for various projects.
“We did it despite knowing that it will dent our vote base,” he said.
Criticising the State bandh observed by the YSRCP and other parties, he said the TDP did not support it as it would cause loss to the economy. He also refuted the claim by a former Minister that ₹30 crore had been incurred on the ‘deeksha’.
Dig at YSRCP, Jana Sena
The Minister came down heavily on the YSRCP and the Jana Sena for trying to gain cheap mileage over SCS.
On why Mr. Naidu was silent for four years over the SCS and other issues, the Minister said the Chief Minister had pursued them with the BJP top brass every time he visited New Delhi. The Prime Minister and others had been evading them on one pretext or the other, he charged.
In an oblique reference to Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan’s tweets against the media, the Minister said, in a democracy, media had its own freedom and it was unfair to cast aspersions on the channels.
