No fear of Narendra Modi anymore: Chandrababu Naidu

​Amaravati: In a fresh offensive against the Centre, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said that no one fears Prime Minister Narendra Modi anymore since his popularity graph has nose-dived lately.

“Now everyone is voicing strong protest against Modi’s excessive centralism much to the detriment of the state. By raising our voice, we have created a situation where all parties are coming together to hit back at the Prime Minister for riding rough-shod over them in all aspects,” he said. 

Naidu, speaking to media-persons after inaugurating Tech Tower set up by the Andhra Pradesh Police Department at Mangalagiri here, pointed out that according Special Category Status for AP was only a matter of political solution. The TDP was examining waging a legal fight with the Centre to get what is due to the state.

He said the position of the Chief Minister sovereign in nature. “I am fighting for the state’s rights. My fight is with the Prime Minister and the central government,” he said and granting what is due to the state constitutionally has now become purely a political issue. 

There are no two opinions that only a political decision could deliver SCS to the state,” he said, adding that the TDP would fight with the Centre as well as seek legal recourse. He said he would not hesitate to go to Delhi any number of times. “There will be no compromise till the Centre grants SCS,” he said.

Naidu ridiculed Modi for going on a hunger strike. “Who is he trying to fool by going on a fast ostensibly in protest against washout of Parliament’s budget session? Are there any instances of a prime minister going on a hunger strike? This is your incompetence,” Naidu said.

He said the TDP had waited for four years patiently for the Centre to deliver all the benefits that were promised in AP State Reorganisation Act but when we realised that they were empty assurances, we came out of the NDA. The Prime Minister could not do anything in Parliament. Now he goes on deeksha. What purpose would it serve?” he asked.