I have equal rights on Hyderabad: Chandrababu Naidu

Reacting sharply to the alleged tapping of his phone by the Telangana government, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu Monday said he has equal rights on Hyderabad, which is a common capital for 10 years.

Addressing a public meeting at Mangalgiri in Guntur district to mark first year of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government, he said he was not afraid of phone tapping or false case by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government.

Naidu, also the TDP chief, said his insult was an insult of five crore people of Andhra Pradesh and also told the gathering that he is ready to sacrifice his life for their self-respect.

"I also have ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) and I also have police in Hyderabad," he said while launching a bitter attack on his Telangana counterpart K. Chandrasekhar Rao by describing him as "inefficient".

He accused Rao of hatching a conspiracy against him through phone tapping and fabrication of documents.

"Am I a servant of KCR," he asked in a voice choked with emotions. Naidu, who has repeatedly warned TRS government against creating hostility between two states, wondered who has given it the right to tap his phone.

The TDP chief said nobody can frighten him as he has the courage and heart of TDP founder N. T. Rama Rao. "It is not possible for KCR to put me in trouble by tapping my phone or through fabrication of document," he said.

Naidu also said under Andhra Pradesh Reorganiation Act, the governor is responsible for law and order in the common capital.

He reiterated the allegation that KCR "bought" legislators of TDP and other opposition parties during last one year. He said one TDP lawmaker, without even resigning, became a minister in the TRS government.

This was Naidu's first reaction after an audio tape of his alleged conversation with a nominated Telangana legislator Elvis Stephenson in cash-for-vote scam surfaced on Sunday.

TDP's deputy leader in Telangana assembly Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB on May 31 when he was offering Rs.50 lakh to Stephenson to make him vote for TDP-BJP candidate in Telangana legislative council elections.

TRS leaders have alleged that Naidu is the mastermind in the case and demanded that he be booked.