“The anti-secular policies of the Narendra Modi government and the anti-democratic policies of the N. Chandrababu Naidu government in the State were compelling the opposition parties to unite and fight,” MLC and former Minister C. Ramachandraiah has said.
Addressing the media at Andhra Ratna Bhavan here, the Congress leader went hammer and tong against Mr. Naidu, accusing him of evading the Opposition. “Why is he so afraid of political parties? Why can’t he convene an all-party meeting to discuss the location of the capital in the highly fertile area in Guntur district?” he asked.
The MLC said the CM’s statements and behaviour indicated that his priorities had become lopsided. If Andhra Pradesh, which was already experiencing severe resource crunch, was going to build a capital of “international standards”, what was going to happen to the rest of the State?” he asked. He added that TDP leaders were trying to politicise the issue, saying that the Opposition was against the building of the capital. “We are not against the building of the capital. We are only opposing the undemocratic way the land for capital has been selected,” Mr. Ramakrishnaiah said.
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He also questioned the propriety of building airports without providing people with basic amenities. The stubborn way the TDP government is trying to deal with farmers in Guntur district has raised doubts about the involvement of “corporate mafia”, he said. He also demanded that the government exempt farmers of six villages who were not ready to give up their land.