The wordy duel between the TDP and the BJP continued on Wednesday with Andhra Pradesh State Planning Board (SPB) vice-chairman C. Kutumba Rao and BJP MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao hurling allegations at each other.
The crossing of swords which started with the Dholera city issue turned into personal accusations. The tremors of the AirAsia audio tapes continued as both of them dared each other to prove respective claims. The BJP leader found fault with inducting Mr. Kutumba Rao into the Planning Board citing his share market background, while the latter alleged that “the MP was a mere psephologist who earned crores of rupees within no time”.
“Even Wikipedia has not much information about him. I am an engineering graduate and has a degree in law. I served as the director of a stock exchange and has experience in many sectors,” Mr. Kutumba Rao said.
The BJP leader should understand that it was a political appointment and the prerogative of the Chief Minister. The Union Minister for Planning and Programme Implementation was a sportsperson, he pointed out.
Mr. Narasimha Rao questioned the TDP leaders’ ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to the alleged mention of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in a conversation between AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandez and AirAsia India former CEO Mittu Chandilya about securing a licence for international operations. “The facts will come out soon. There is no need for us to demand an inquiry as the CBI was already seized of the matter,” he said.
Mr. Kutumba Rao defended saying not a single word on bribe was found in the tapes. “We got fresh evidence on extending undue benefits to a corporate group by the Modi government.”
“Why is Mr. Kutumba Rao waiting to expose a major scandal? I am prepared to reply to whatever issue he raises,” the BJP leader retorted.
He accused the TDP government of tapping the phone of BJP State president Kanna Lakshminarayana and claimed to have a proof of it.
Mr. Kutumba Rao said: “Tapping phones is under the Central government purview. The State government has no role to play.”