Chandrababu Naidu sees plot to weaken TDP govt

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the BJP government at the Centre has been trying to weaken the TDP government and making efforts to create turmoil in the State. 

He said the BJP was resorting to counter attack when he was asking for Special Category Status and fulfillment of other assurances made in the AP Reorganisation Act.

The Chief Minister was the chief guest at the Ugadi celebrations organised at the Tummalapalli Kalakshetram here on Sunday by the Department of Culture and Languages. 

State Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Deputy Speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad, Ministers Akhila Priya, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Krishna Zilla Parishad chairperson Gadde Anuradha, large number of people including artistes and officials attended the Telugu New Year celebrations.

The Chief Minister attired in traditional Lungi attended the celebrations along with his wife Bhuvaneswari and grandson Devansh. Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said it was very painful that the BJP had announced war against the TDP government in the State and making attempts to weaken his government.

“I have asked the Union government to fulfill 18 promises made at the time of State bifurcation, but the BJP is resorting to counter attack,” the Chief Minister said.

He alleged that the BJP betrayed the Telugu people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to respond though he went to Delhi 29 times to meet him and other Union Ministers and asked for the Special Category Status. Naidu made it clear that he would not allow Tamil Nadu type of political activities in the State at any cost.   

The Chief Minister made these comments following the meeting held by BJP national president Amit Shah with the AP BJP leaders in New Delhi on Saturday. The meeting has decided to wage a war on the TDP government and go the people at the gross-root level to explain the efforts being made by the BJP for the development of the State.

Naidu pointed out that the Telugu people are very strong and the TDP was formed to protect the self-respect of Telugus. He said the BJP had declared a war on the State when he was seeking fulfillment of promises made to AP including sanction of SCS and other assurances in the Reorganisation Act.

Referring to Ugadi, the Chief Minister said Telugu people possess great tradition and culture. He expressed happiness over the prediction of the astrologer that the State would experience good rainfall in the New Year.

The good rainfall will lead to good agriculture production and increase in groundwater levels, he said. Naidu explained the efforts made by the state government to raise the groundwater levels which are giving fruitful results. He said the agriculture crop area in Rayalaseema region would be increased from 41 lakh acres to one crore acres.

He said the State government had increased budget for the Department of Culture and Language to Rs 86 crore and informed that 6,740 artistes were receiving pension every month. He said the traditional handicrafts will get good market with the use of technology.  He stressed the need for further promoting and marketing Kondapalli toys.

The Chief Minister presented Ugadi awards to people representing different fields including literature, sculpture, arts, culture, film industry and history.