Exhorting people to defeat the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre in the general elections, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the need of the hour is to “protect the nation and the State from betrayal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Addressing a public meeting at Kuppam after launching the sixth phase of the Janmabhoomi - Maa Vooru programme, Mr. Naidu said he was angered and pained as Mr. Modi betrayed the State and its people.
Dig at KCR, Jagan
“Mr. Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy are acting in tandem, albeit surreptitiously, with a view to scuttling the development of Andhra Pradesh.
“The three leaders are jealous of the rapid strides being made by the State in spite of financial stringency,” Mr Naidu said, and dwelt at length the development and welfare activities his government had initiated in the last over four years.
Stating that he had opposed the release of high-denomination currency notes, Mr. Naidu alleged that “demonetisation and GST have destabilised the country’s economy and devastated the banking sector.” The Centre remained a mute spectator when those who had cheated the banks left the country, he said.
Referring to the Rafale deal, he said, “Under Mr. Modi’s rule, the country’s security is at stake.”
I-T raids
The Centre would not mind resorting to tapping the phones of TDP leaders, he said, and cited the Income-Tax and Enforcement Directorate raids on the party functionaries to drive home his point. The NDA regime made a mockery of democracy by ruining the functioning of institutions such as the CBI and the RBI, he alleged.
The “political doublespeak” of the BJP on issues such as triple talaq and women devotees’ entry into the Sabarimala temple was deplorable, he said.
Explaining the circumstances that had forced the TDP to quit the NDA, Mr. Naidu said non-fulfilment of the provisions of the State Reorganisation Act and denying funds that were legitimately due to the State tantamount to betrayal.
“Denial of steel plant to the Rayalaseema region and Dugarajapatnam port has forced us to look for alternatives,” Mr. Naidu added.
“The Polavaram project, which is 65% complete, will be executed at any cost. The Centre is yet to give ₹3,600 crore on this count,” he said.
Training his guns on Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister said that the Opposition leader had completely surrendered to the Prime Minister to save himself from court cases.
Terming the verbal attack of Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao against him as “indecent and uncivilised,” Mr. Naidu said he was ready to bear the humiliation for the sake of the people of the State.
Appeal to JSP
Interestingly, Mr. Naidu going soft on Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan came as a surprise.
“The JSP’s fact-finding committee had stated that ₹70,000 crore was due to the State. Mr. Pawan has to question the betrayal of the Centre and cooperate with us,” Mr. Naidu said.
Thanking the people of Kuppam for reposing faith in him in every election, Mr. Naidu said, “There is some disenchantment among the people here that I am not frequently visiting the constituency. However, wherever I may be, my heart is with you.”
Minister N. Amaranatha Reddy, MP N. Siva Prasad, Collector P.S. Pradyumna, SP Vikrant Patil and senior party leaders were present.
