BJP will face Congress fate if it does injustice to state: Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: Telugu Desam Party president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday observed that the BJP too will do injustice to the state like that of Congress party.

Addressing the TDP Parliamentary Party meeting held at his residence at Undavalli in Guntur, Naidu said this was the grievance of common public in Andhra Pradesh. He observed that the Congress had paid heavy price by bifurcating the state in an ‘unscientific’ manner and warned the BJP also face the same lesson if they will not do justice to the state.

Naidu said that he never said no to the Special Category Status (SCS) to the state. But, the Central government informed him that they could not give SCS to any state in the country under the given circumstances at that time, he added. 

At that time, he was forced to accept the special package suggested by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as an alternative to the SCC, he said and added even after that, the Centre did not give funds to the state as they promised in special package.  Naidu said the Centre explained that there were problems in granting SCS under the recommendations of Fourteenth Finance Commission.

At that time, the Central government said there would be no SCS to the remaining states which were enjoying it till that day, the Chief Minister said and added contradicting to their words, the Central government has been continuing the SCs to other states.

Naidu questioned that how could they continue like this? The Chief Minister maintained that if the Central government allow other states to get benefits under the SCS, then they must accord SCS to AP and give all the benefits under the scheme.

Pointing out at the per capita income of AP residents, Naidu maintained that it was low amongst southern states and added denying SCS by showing the per capita income was not acceptable.

Reacting on Opposition YSRCP, Naidu maintained that they have been demanding only SCS and ignoring rest of the vital demands pertaining to the AP Reorganisation Act and others.

He accused the YSRCP of utilising the SCS as a tool to gain mileage but not fighting for the cause of development of AP. The TDP has faced many challenges like August crisis in 1985, leadership change in 1995, state bifurcation in 2014 and now also facing another challenge, informed Naidu with the MPs in the meeting. He suggested the rank and file to fight against the problems as they will save the party.

Naidu expressed anger over the BJP leaders for diverting the issue by announcing Rayalaseema Declaration and observed that instead of demanding Central government to release the funds, the local BJP leaders were pushing the state government into troubles. He questioned that would they provoke north Andhra public by demanding North Andhra?

At this juncture, Chandrababu Naidu also warned TDP MP T G Venkatesh, who involved in verbal dual with the BJP leaders on Rayalaseema Declaration. Venkatesh was reportedly demanded second capital in Rayalaseema. Venkatesh informed Naidu that his comments were wrongly projected in the media. He opined that the TDP gave support to the BJP with good faith and it was the responsibility of the party to retain it.

Reacting on Arun Jaitley’s comments on formulae, Chandrababu Naidu ridiculed that they did not give any formulae to the state under the special package. MP K Narayana observed that the only weapons in the hands of TDP were the MPs and it would not be possible to fight against BJP if the MPs would resign. Another MP Garikapati Rammohan Rao observed that all parties in the country had sympathy on AP and they would support to solve this problem.