Centre trying to remove AP from Country's map, alleges CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday accused the NDA government of discriminating against South India in the matter of allotting cabinet berths and criticised a saffron party lawmaker for trying to defend the Centre.

Referring to the Union Budget, the Chief Minister said in the State Assembly there was "not one word" about Andhra Pradesh in the budget and alleged that the Centre was attempting to remove the state from the country's map.

"In the initial days, there at least used to be a reference to AP. In this budget, there is not a mention of Andhra Pradesh. Looks like they ultimately want to remove AP from the India map," Naidu said.

Accusing the Centre of discriminating against south India and not giving any berth in the Union Cabinet to at least one MP from the region, he asked if it was not part of the country.

When the two BJP MLAs P Vishnu Kumar Raju and Manikyala Rao protested, the Chief Minister said Sadananda Gowda (from Karnataka) was the sole face in the Central government.

The name of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, did not figure in Naidu's address.

He also wondered if making M Venkaiah Naidu the Vice-President was a "punishment or promotion" and alleged he was removed as Union Minister out of "anger."
When BJP floor leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju started reading out names of national institutions sanctioned to AP, though not promised in the Reorganisation Act, Naidu said "You have no right to be an elected (peoples) representative. Are you doing tamasha."
As the BJP leader sought to raise an objection, Naidu asked the MLA to "go to Delhi and raise your objection."