Responding to Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan’s acerbic remarks against him and his party, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said, “Instead of fighting for the rights of the people of Andhra Pradesh, what is the point in criticising me.”
Addressing a meeting organised to distribute modern tools and implements to the beneficiaries of the Aadarana scheme launched for the traditionally skilled sections among the Backward Classes, Mr. Naidu said he would continue to fight to protect the rights of his people against all odds.
Mr. Naidu said he could foresee more problems in the days to come. “But I am ready to face them. I have nothing against the Modi government. I have answers to all the criticisms, be it by the YSRCP or Pawan Kalyan. The only thing that saddens me is that by opposing me, these parties (YSRCP and Jana Sena) are strengthening the hands of the Central government which has let down the people of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
“The YSR Congress Party leaders are finding fault with me but they don’t speak a word against the BJP-led government at the Centre. Now, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has also started talking against me. The person who has not done anything in the last four years, has suddenly emerged from nowhere to criticise me,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said the Modi government was trying to suppress the State governments. In an inference to YSR Congress Party president Jagan Mohan Reddy, Mr. Naidu said, “People who have cases against them should be afraid, I am not because I am not power-hungry.”
Warning to NDA govt.
He invoked the Telugu Desam Party’s founder the late NTR’s name amidst public applause and said: “I warn the NDA government at the Centre. The battle will continue as it is the question of Telugu people’s self-respect.” He distributed modern tools and implements to the beneficiaries of the Aadarana scheme.
A sum of ₹750 crore has been allocated to this project which covers 2.5 lakh beneficiaries.
Deputy CM K.E. Krishnamurthy, Ministers D. Umamaheswara Rao, Kollu Ravindra and K. Atchannaidu, Principal Secretary of BC Welfare Department B. Udaya Lakshmi, Krishna ZP Chairperson Gadde Anuradha and others were present.
