BJP President Amit Shah has written an open letter to the people of Andhra Pradesh following CM Chandrababu Naidu’s allegations against the NDA which were followed by some personal remarks against Prime Minister Modi.
Shah came down heavily on Naidu for not just making personal remarks against the PM but also lacking the courtesy to receive the PM when he visited Andhra Pradesh. Shah wrote: “He is going too far by personally attacking Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and even did not have the courtesy to receive the Hon’ble Prime Minister when he came to the state.”
Shah accused Naidu of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh by supporting Congress, the very same party against which his father-in-law N T Rama Rao had founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
“In his lust for power, the TDP leader has destroyed the very anti-Congress foundation on which the party was built by its founder, Shri N T Rama Rao. Congress betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh while dividing the state and now TDP leader wants to work for bringing back Congress to power. His actions smack of political opportunism.”
The BJP President went on and said that Naidu had severed ties with the NDA for his own political benefit and he was blaming the Centre for his own failure of not implementing the populist promises he had made to the people of Andhra.
“Ever since he had snapped ties with NDA for his own political survival, he has been letting loose a deluge of disinformation against the NDA government. In a bid to cover up his own failures and inability to implement the populist promises made by him to the people, he has been blaming the Centre without any rhyme or reason.”
Shah questioned the UPA for not including the provision of ‘Special Category Status’ (SCS) in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Shah said that Naidu does not have the moral right to criticise the Central government.
“Had there been even an iota of sincerity towards the people of Andhra Pradesh, UPA would have included the provision of ‘Special Category Status’ in AP Reorganization Act. Similarly, why did it not facilitate speedier implementation of Polavaram project by transferring the seven Mandals located in Khammam district to Andhra Pradesh? Why did it not promulgate an ordinance in this regard? Let Shri Naidu and the Congress answer the above questions before accusing anybody. Till then, they have no moral right to criticize the Central Government”, Shah wrote.
Shah did not even spare the media for helping Naidu spread his “false propaganda”. He reminded Naidu that the same Congress party had dismissed his father-in-law N T Rama Rao in 1984.
“Now with the support of a section of willing media, he has been indulging in false propaganda at all forums and virtually made the TDP subservient to the Congress. The TDP leader joined hands with a party which had imposed Emergency and had dismissed his father-in-law—the popularly elected Telugu Desam founder and former Chief Minister, Shri N T Rama Rao in 1984.”
Regarding Naidu’s demand of SCS for Andhra Pradesh, Shah said that the Central government had worked out special assistance for the State with the State government as 14th Finance Commission recommendations did not distinguish between special and general category states for financial support and tax devolution.
“As regards granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, the Centre has been constrained by the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, which did not make a distinction between special and general category states for financial support and tax devolution. As a result, the Centre in consultation with the state Government worked out special assistance for AP. The Central Government has agreed to give a special assistance measure for Andhra Pradesh for five years, which would make up for the additional Central share the state might have received during these years, i.e. 2015-16 to 2019-20, as envisaged in the then Prime Minister’s statement dated 20.2.2014”, his letter mentioned.
He listed out various development projects of the Central government which are underway in the State. He concluded by accusing Naidu of breaking the trust of the people and expressed faith in the truth.
“In the end, I would like to say to all of you that Shri Chandrababu Naidu has broken the trust of the people of Andhra Pradesh. His delusional politics is about to end. Our full faith and belief is in ‘सत्यमेवजयते’. Let us jointly contribute to the development of Andhra Pradesh and India.”
Shah had written a detailed open letter to Naidu earlier when he had exited the NDA.
Naidu, who is in Delhi currently organising a protest against the central government, has stated that the central government is hitting him “below the belt” and they (PM and Amit Shah) have to “maintain the decorum”.
It is notable here that Naidu’s Delhi protests faced condemnations yesterday after derogatory posters mocking the Prime Minister’s humble familial backgrounds were displayed by the TDP.
