On the first anniversary of the division of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, while the government of Telangana celebrated the day, the Chief Minister of the residuary State, N. Chandrababu Naidu struck a note of resolve on Tuesday, and pledged to build a State that the “perpetrators of bifurcation” would be envious of.
Speaking at his government’s anniversary event, Nava Nirmana Deeksha, Mr. Naidu reminded the Centre of its assurances made to the State prior to bifurcation and asked it to deliver on the promises by funding A.P.’s projects.
In a speech before administering a pledge to a gathering of officers, citizens and Ministers, Mr. Naidu spoke out against the ‘injustice’ meted out to Andhra Pradesh by the bifurcation and said it was the responsibility of the Centre to help the State recover.
“Great injustice was done to us in the manner in which Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated. Telangana could become the second richest State after Gujarat only because it was given Hyderabad. But, we shall build a capital that will make those conspirators envious. Building another Hyderabad is not an issue. We can build three or four Hyderabads and Bangalores, but I need your support,” Mr. Naidu said.
He said the Centre had made several commitments to persuade Andhra Pradesh to accept division. Mr. Naidu said “it needed full monetary and policy support.”
The State expected the Central government’s help so as to grow on par with the other southern States in the next 10-15 years.
Mr. Naidu said his party, the TDP, had tried its best to keep the State united, but bifurcation became a reality as the Congress, which was the key conspirator behind it, took the people of A.P. for granted in collusion with the TRS and YSRC. Consequently, the people of Andhra Pradesh “have had to make great sacrifices.”
However, the Chief Minister said, bifurcation could prove to be a blessing in disguise because the State had attracted global investors such as Singapore and Japan who came forward to help his government construct a capital city and realise its industrial growth potential.
The Chief Minister also struck a cooperative note, saying AP and Telangana may have parted ways geographically, but the people have no animosity towards each other. “We are ready to amicably sort out any tricky issues with Telangana and expect a similar attitude from them,” Mr. Naidu said, stressing the need for Telugu people to shed any bitterness that may have arisen in the run-up to the bifurcation.
Mr. Naidu said he would submit a report on the performance of his government on June 8 at a public meeting to mark the anniversary of its one year in office. “AP has matched other progressive States as far as welfare is concerned in the last one year. It is fully committed to transforming the State into a model for others in the coming decades,” he added.
