Imprudent talk

Over politicising of certain issues can prove to be counterproductive. This is what BJP leaders both at the Centre in general and the two Telugu States in particular need to understand. Taking on ruling parties for political gains is understandable but it should have some rationality. Just levelling accusations or making senseless comments only lowers the image of the national parties.

Polavaram is a national project and lifeline for Andhra Pradesh. For this reason, it is shocking to hear AP BJP president Kanna Lakshminarayana say that since Polavaram is a national project, AP should withdraw from implementing the project. 

In contrast, listen to what former BJP national president and Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari, said a few hours later. After inspecting the project along with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, he is all praise for the manner the state government and contractors are executing the works at a feverish pace, yet in a transparent manner. Once friends and now foes, he, nevertheless, showed his grace and lauded Naidu for his keen interest in project. 

This is what one would call statesmanship, Kanna should know. Gadkari’s plainspeak was not mixing politics with development. He made clear Centre’s keen interest in timely completion of project. In fact, he committed deadlines – February 2019 – for himself, in front of media, and in turn before Telugu people, to accord approvals, should AP govt clarify Centre’s doubts on certain technical features. One can’t hide appreciation for him as he squarely said BJP and TDP would fight bitterly in politics and polls, but would cooperate on development issues. He pointed out Polavaram would become pride of the nation.  

Soon after paying a visit to Polavaram, an impressed Gadkari immediately took to Twitter, and informed: “visited Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh with CM Chandrababu Naidu ji. This is very important project for the development of region. With 194.6 TMC water capacity, 540 villages will get drinking water and around 7.2 lacks acres of land will be irrigated (sic).”

The AP BJP which is straining its every nerve to politicise everything to make it tough for TDP government should take a cue from their national leaders. Even when the two Telugu states have been ranked as two top most states in ease of doing business, the BJP MP GVL Narsimha Rao refuses to accept it and tweeted, saying that AP was top in ‘ease of doing corruption.’ He says if CBI probe is ordered in land acquisition and rehabilitation issues in Polavaram project, then many officials will go to jail.  

The YSRCP duly echoed similar views.   Every party certainly works to improve its electoral prospects, but then it is for the first time we are seeing demands for CBI probe into every aspect of developmental activities. Even in Telangana when the central ministers visit the State, they praise the government and its programmes. The corruption which is not visible to them is visible to state leaders. The BJP certainly needs to address this dichotomy, lest it should defame itself in the eyes of people.