BJP terms TDP protest propaganda

As against TDP’s protest within and outside the Parliament this month, claiming that the Modi Government did little to meet its demand of  financial package to Andhra Pradesh, the BJP on Saturday  dismissed it as “propaganda” and asked its alliance partner  to sort out its issues with the Government “amicably”.

TDP has been saying that though it has been fulfilling 'coalition dharma' to the best the same has not been reciprocated by the BJP. The Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has been attacking the Centre following the presentation of the Union Budget, saying it has ignored the State.

Talking to The Pioneer, TDP MP Ram Mohan Naidu  said, TDP has behaved as a much-better partner than the Shiv Sena, the longest ally of the BJP.  He said TDP will not scale down its demands maintaining that the “final decision” on continuing the alliance will be taken by the top leaders.

Responding to the charges, the BJP said the State has received priority and the Centre is committed to its development, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.

At a Press conference here, Rao and State party president and Visakhapatnam MP K Hari Babu presented a list of institutions, projects and funds sanctioned for the State by the NDA Government and asserted that the Centre has taken utmost care of the state. The State has received priority and the Centre is committed to its development, Rao said.

Referring to the charges made by Andhra MPs representing TDP and YSRCP, Rao said it was all “propaganda”.

Hari Babu said that in a meeting held  on Friday, two major issues— the revenue deficit the State had inherited at the time of bifurcation and the implementation of special package— have been sorted out and concerns over other proposed projects and institutions were also addressed.

The Centre will bear all revenue deficit for the entire period of the 14th finance commission and a total of `22,113 crores will be paid to Andhra Pradesh as grant for the five- year period.

The Centre has released a sum of `1,269 crore to AP under different heads in the last few days with the gross grant including `417.44 crore for the Polavaram multipurpose project, one of the contentious issues between the allies TDP and BJP, he said.