The BJP betrayed the people of A.P. and the nation, and it was the duty of all right-thinking persons and parties to join hands to defeat the party in the general elections in 2019 to save the country and protect the democratic institutions built carefully over decades, said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Saturday.
He was participating in an interactive session at a conclave organised by a private media house.
‘Democratic compulsion’
Mr. Naidu said he joined hands with the Congress only to achieve the objective as it was the need of the hour, though the TDP did oppose the Congress in the past.
“It is not an opportunistic political alliance, but a democratic compulsion which led me and my party to join hands with the Congress.”
He said the idea of a federal front or third front (non-BJP and non-Congress front) was not workable.
“Only once such a front came into power at the Centre. The United Front came to power in 1996, of which TDP was also a part, but even it was supported by the Congress from outside. Even after the general elections in 2019, every party has to choose either to be with the Congress or the BJP. Right now, the BJP is the biggest danger to the country. All democratic institutions such as the CBI and the RBI are destroyed be it. The RBI Governor resigned and in the CBI the top two officials were fighting each other in the court,” he said. To a question, he said even KCR was free to join the anti-BJP front if he so wishes. “I have always tried to cooperate with KCR for the progress of both the Telugu States. But his attitude is different,” he said. He accused Prime Minister Modi of “betraying the nation and Andhra Pradesh even more. He attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony at Amaravati. But unfortunately he is not giving funds. He is not honouring the commitments made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the promise made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha on SCS. He is totally negative in his approach.”
He also reminded the audience that he had called for the resignation of Mr. Narendra Modi after the Godhra riots in Gujarat. However, keeping in view the interests of the State, he had aligned with the BJP in 2014, but none of the promises had been kept.
To another question, he said all the Opposition parties would elect the leader after the general election in 2019, and “that leader should be acceptable to the parties and the people of India.” He said he did not have any ambition to be the Prime Minister. On demonetisation, he said it was a fact that he had advocated the abolition of 500 and ₹1,000 notes, but he wanted them to be replaced by digital currency. “Instead, the Modi Government has introduced ₹2,000 note. It was done in a very haphazard manner, causing enormous distress to the people.”
Farm loan waiver
On farm loan waiver, he said it was necessary to provide some immediate relief to the farmer but it should be followed by other steps to make farming remunerative and prevent the suicides of farmers. Structural changes should be brought about. “We are doing that in Andhra Pradesh. The cost of cultivation should be brought down. We are encouraging zero-budget natural farming and it has won us accolades,” he said. Rebutting the criticism of the BJP leaders, he said the performance of the State government was so good that it had bagged several Central awards in spite of all the hurdles being posed by the Centre. “That gives the lie to their false propaganda,” he said.
He expressed “100% confidence” that the TDP would win the Assembly and the general elections in 2019.
