Will resist if Centre uses CBI against me: Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said he would not be cowed down if the Centre resorts to any misadventure since the CBI is under its control.

The Chief Minister, replying to a question at a news conference at the secretariat here, said that he would resist if the Centre makes any such move by misusing its power. Though he was not expecting it, he could at the same time rule it out as there would be no smoke without fire.

He however pointed out that while speaking at public meeting at Dwarapuri in East Godavari district recently, he called upon the people to protect the state from any possible onslaught from the Centre. “I did not mean that people should protect me by surrounding him as a human shield.

They should protect the state in this fashion,” he said, adding: “I am convinced that the Centre was getting ready to attack the state in different ways. It might deny all the benefits that are promised to the state under the AP State Reorganisation Act, funding the Polavaram project and other projects.”

Naidu dismissed as ridiculous the interpretation of his statement that he was afraid and pointed out that he has nothing to fear. “There are people who are neck deep in cases and are attending courts every Friday. They should be afraid of consequences. I need not worry as I do not have any cases against me,” he said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that since YSRCP leaders were afraid of the cases against their leader, they are getting closer to the BJP. The saffron party too, to subserve its narrow political interests, was being friendly with the YSRCP though the BJP had made a pledge that it would root out corruption. “How can the BJP rub shoulders with YSRCP leaders if it was really concerned about corruption?” he asked.

Referring to the comments that Union minister Ramdas Athawale had made that there was nothing wrong if the YSRCP is admitted to the NDA since the charges against Jaganmohan Reddy were yet to be proved, Naidu said the minister’s observation had bared the unholy and invisible alliance between the BJP and YSRCP. “I will not be surprised if the YSRCP strike a pre-poll alliance with the BJP,” he said.

Naidu, as an after-thought, said the BJP encouraged the YSRCP since it would dance to its tunes unlike the TDP which is committed to rebuilding the state and did not hesitate to confront the Centre to realise the promises made to the state. “The BJP too is moving closer to the YSRCP because it is easier to deal with Jagan as he has several skeletons in his cupboard,” he said.

Naidu reiterated that the Governors should act with dignity and eschew doing anteing that would defame the institution they represent. The Telugu Desam Party has suffered in the past because of the dubious role the Governors had played and felt that they should enhance the image of the institution they represent and not denigrate with their actions.

Naidu said he intended to address a public meeting on April 30 at the same place in Tirupati from where Narendra Modi as BJP’s prime minister candidate spoke ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and made several promises to the state including special category status. “I will confront Modi from there,” he said.

The Chief Minister narrated how he had fulfilled the promises he had made during Vastunna Meekosam Padayatra ahead of 2014 elections and asserted that he had done more than what he had promised. Though the Centre was not helpful, yet with limited resources, he had done a lot for the people and initiated several measures for the benefit of all sections including the BCs.