TDP tears into Modi-Shah arrogance

New Delhi: Centre's negative policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stewardship came in for sharp criticism of the TDP here on Thursday during the reply to the President's speech.

Elaborating on the injustice done to AP by Modi, TDP MP Galla Jayadev sought a white paper on the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, implemented by the Centre. He was critical of the demonetisation and faulty implementation of the GST and said these two measures had only helped increase the unemployment in the country.

The Budget itself shed crocodile tears for the farmers, he said pointing out that it talked of farmers, middle class, informal sector and real estate sector's welfare only because the ruling party had lost successive byelections.

Jayadev said Modi-Shah duo had mistaken arrogance for intellect and said it had resulted in not only the Prime Minister and his Cabinet but also the entire BJP becoming uncertain about their own future. It was committing mistake after mistake and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was angry with Modi and the Centre because of their failure to keep their word given to the nation and in Parliament.

He said BJP had forgotten that an Indian could be anyone with any belief and any eating and dressing habit. Being Indian only meant celebrating the freedom to be all or some or none at one's own free will. Indians were not about identity but diversity unlike what Modi thought and was trying to impose on the nation, Jayadev said.