Naidu accuses Modi govt of cheating Andhra Pradesh, backing tainted parties

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre of betraying the people of his state and entertaining political parties that are tainted.

Speaking to News18, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief claimed that the Narendra Modi government was “promoting tainted political parties”, referring to the disproportionate assets case against YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He further accused the government of indulging in “mud-slinging”. Responding to a question on Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent statement on the TDP government was not giving an account of Centre’s aid, Naidu said that the NDA government did not have any problem with him till he was a part of their alliance, but now that he parted ways, they were raising baseless allegations.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, the TDP chief accused the BJP-led NDA government of playing with the emotions of people of Andhra Pradesh. He added that he waited till the last budget before deciding to part ways with the NDA government, adding that he was always told by the government that they would never give special status to Andhra Pradesh because of the 14th Finance Commission.

"They (the government) are blaming me, saying we are prepared to give money, but you are not ready to take. They have given special status to 11 states in spite of the 14th Finance Commission. Then why not to Andhra Pradesh?" asked Naidu.

He said he even told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that if he could sort out the issue "we will continue in the NDA" and it was only after that they decided to snap the ties.

He said he had his alliance with the BJP was because the state needed "hand holding from the Centre".

"Had they given us special status within first year, I would have saved Rs 3,000-5,000 crore. I want to place all this on record. I waited for four years. (But) they didn't mention any word in their budget about Andhra they did not even show concern."

Naidu said he had come to Delhi 29 times in the last four years, to meet the Prime Minister and his ministers.

"And after 29 visits nothing happened. They did a few minor things, but major part of (Andhra Pradesh) bifurcation act was not implemented."

(With IANS inputs)