Naidu blames Centre for unrest in AP

Visakhapatnam: Signalling growing political dissonance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and its long-time ally TDP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday observed that people in the state were turning restive over the Central government’s inordinate delay in fulfilling promises made during the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The Chief Minister made this remark during the ongoing CII Partnership Summit here. Naidu, who focused on signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) during the first two days of the Summit to attract investments to the state, opened up on the last day to vent out his feelings on the key issue amid straining of ties with the Centre.

Sharing the dais with spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at a session titled ‘Special plenary with a social icon’, the TDP president targeted the BJP. "What they committed, they are not giving, causing unrest among the people," said Naidu, whose party is a partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.     

The TDP had stalled the proceedings during the Budget Session of Parliament to protest the raw deal meted out to the state in the Union Budget 2018-19.

Naidu reminded about injustice done to Andhra Pradesh while dividing it to carve out Telangana state in 2014. He recalled the problems he had to face in making a beginning from the scratch. He said he was working hard to develop the State as an innovation valley and using technology to solve people's problems. The Chief Minister said people had more expectations from him.

Naidu had long been demanding with the Centre to fulfil all commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. He is seeking liberal financial assistance and handholding by the Centre.

Over the last few weeks, Naidu hinted that his patience was growing thin. Naidu made the remarks when the moderator Pranjal Sharma, author of Kranti Nation, sought his views and that of Ravi Shankar on the importance of patience.