Modi government never cared about Andhra's problems: Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose TDP pulled out of BJP-led NDA on Friday, said during the last four years, the Narendra Modi government never cared about the problems faced by the state and did injustice to it in all the union budgets.

Addressing the the state legislative council, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said that in the last budget (2018-19), the government did not even bother to mention Andhra Pradesh.

Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his poll promise that he will build a state capital which will be better than New Delhi, Naidu said it was same Modi who had targeted the Congress party during 2014 election campaign over the manner in which it carved out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.

He pointed out that Modi had compared Congress to a doctor who killed the mother to facilitate birth of the child.

The Chief Minister said the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was then in opposition, promised to fulfil all commitments including special category status to the state but forgot all the promises after coming to power.

Naidu told the House that TDP joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the sake of the state's interests. "We never demanded any post. They made two of our MPs the ministers," he said.

The TDP last week pulled out both the ministers to mount pressure on the government.

Stating that the special category status is the right of Andhra Pradesh, he said the TDP would not rest till achieving this right.

He said the BJP should introspect as to why his party had to take a strong decision to pull out of the NDA.

He also found fault with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement that sentiments can't increase the quantum of funds. "Was Telangana not created because of sentiments," Naidu asked.

Naidu said there was no truth in the Centre's argument that the 14th Finance Commission has opposed according special category status to any state. He said a central minister denied this in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Targeting both YSR Congress party and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan for working against the state's interests, he alleged that they were creating doubts in the minds of people over Polavaram project, which is the lifeline of the state.

On the allegations of corruption made by Pawan Kalyan, Naidu said he was not afraid of anybody. He said in the past 26 inquiries were ordered against him but nothing could be proved against him.

--IANS

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