PM Narendra Modi’s failure to accord Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh shows his incompetence: CM Chandrababu Naidu

MANGALAGIRI: On the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed fast as a mark of protest against disruption of Parliament proceedings, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu upped the ante by directing his ire towards the PM. The TDP supremo questioned as to who the PM was trying to cheat by his act. “Instead of resolving our problems, he is instigating other parties and resorted to a fast. Isn’t this your incompetence?” he asked the PM.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating AP Police Tech Tower here at Mangalagiri on Thursday, the CM wondered, “Were there any PMs in the history who observed fast in protest against washout of Parliament session?” He added that he patiently waited for four years hoping that the BJP-led government at the Centre would implement all the bifurcation assurances. “We waited till the recent budget. But, nothing was announced. He (Modi) did nothing during the budget, so he is now fasting,” he said.

Naidu further said that Modi visited Tamil Nadu as the state ‘has a puppet government’. “We will continue our relentless fight for our rights. Other parties which once were afraid of the BJP became bold after the TDP started the fight against the saffron party. Only some in the State have compromised with the Centre,” he said. The TDP chief claimed his party played an instrumental role in mobilising support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. “If I give a call, no Central Government vehicle will ply on roads in the State. But, I won’t do so as it will further cripple the State which had lost due to bifurcation. My fight is against the Prime Minister and the Centre,” the CM said.

Reacting to the criticism against him from the opposition parties, he said, “They are calling me incompetent. If I am incompetent, then who is competent? If the court cases are tightened, he (YS Jagan) will be behind bars in three days like AIADMK leader Sasikala.”

To a query if the State Government would take a legal recourse for implementation of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, he replied in the affirmative, but quickly added, “Political solution is the only way out. We had filed a petition in court four years ago regarding division of assets. What has happened? Nothing. So, political solution is the only solution to the issue.”