Chandrababu Naidu dares PM on utilisation certificates (UCs)

I’m demanding an answer from PM. This has got nothing to do with politics: Naid

Amaravati: Taking umbrage to the accusation of the BJP leaders that the utilisation certificates submitted to the Centre were fake, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prove the charge.

In a fresh offensive against the BJP in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said, “Though, we have submitted utilisation certificates (UCs) for Central funds received by the state, the BJP leaders were carrying out a campaign that they were either not submitted or were fake.

“As the Chief Minister of the state, I am demanding an answer from Prime Minister on the issue. This has got nothing to do with politics. It deals with the larger issue of how effective cooperative federal system in our country is,” he said.

He pointed out that the Centre would use loopholes in the UCs to delay or avoid releasing funds to the states. Now that the Centre’s game-plan is clear, the officials should keep the records up to date all the time so that it would not gain any purchase to its argument that the state was spending money irresponsibly.

Before Naidu spoke, video clippings of Prime Minister’s speech in Tirupati, ahead of 2014 elections were played, in which he had promised Special Category Status to the state, implementing all the promises made in the AP State Reorganisation Act and funds for capital construction.

After the exhibition of video clippings, the Chief Minister demanded that the Prime Minister answer people of Andhra Pradesh on why he went back on conferring Special Category Status to AP. He said the Centre failed to fulfill the assurances made to the state at the time of bifurcation.

Delivering knock out punches at Modi, he said: “I will not allow arm twisting by the Centre. It does not want development in the state. You are wearing your ill-intentions on your sleeve for everyone to see.” He reminded Modi that the Centre and state should respect each other but that was not happening.

He said the Centre was playing with the sentiments of people by denying funds for construction of capital city. “If necessary, the state government will float bonds to take up the development works. We will give more interest than banks do if people invest in bonds,” he said.

Referring to how the Centre was stonewalling discussion on no- confidence motion, Naidu said that the Centre was afraid that the nation would get to know how it had broken all the promises made to the state to help it stand on its feet. “If the motion is allowed, people will know what promises had been fulfilled and what were not, ” he said.

He recalled the Prime Minister making a commitment in Parliament that he would bridge the revenue deficit of Rs16,000 crore. “Even after four years, the Centre failed to release the funds. Why this partisan attitude towards AP,” he asked.

Explaining over the funds released by the Centre to state so far, he said the Centre took back Rs 350 crore of the total amount of Rs 946.47 crore given to backward districts. “This is not alms by the Centre but our right. The Centre is only reimbursing after the state spent first,” he said. Earlier, Naidu slammed YSR Congress, Jana Sena and BJP for not attending the all party and all associations meeting.

“They owe an explanation to the people for absenting themselves. We want all parties to come forward for united fight to protect the interests of state. Our Minister will invite the parties, including the YSRC, Jana Sena and the BJP, for the second meeting,” he said.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the comments of YSR Congress MP Vijaysai Reddy had made on him, unmindful of the fact that he was lowering his dignity by using indecent words. The Chief Minister and all the legislators attended assembly session sporting black badges.