The TDP is trying to politicise even the announcement of the new railway zone by raising “trivial and administrative issues” pertaining to the Waltair division, BJP State president Kanna Lakshminarayana has said.
Bifurcation of the Waltair division would not be a problem as income generated in various divisions would go to the Railways and spent in accordance with the needs identified throughout the nation, Mr. Lakshminarayana told the media here on Thursday.
Modi visit
The TDP was not welcoming the formation of South Coast Railway (SCoR) as it feared that the credit would go to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was scheduled to address a public meeting in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
The UPA government had failed to take a decision on the railway zone. But the BJP government fulfilled the promise made in the Reorganisation Act. Creation of SCoR would be a boon to the State, particularly the north Andhra region, Mr. Lakshminarayana said. “The Centre will never seek to gain political mileage as its first priority is to develop Andhra Pradesh, which lost its resources after bifurcation. The Prime Minister will explain the benefits extended to the State during his visit to Visakhapatnam,” he added. He accused the TDP government of trying to show Mr. Modi in poor light despite the Centre doing many favours.
Earlier, interacting with the party leaders, Mr. Lakshminarayana underlined the need to effectively counter the TDP’s criticism on the railway zone and other issues.
PM thanked
Staff Reporter in Vijayawada writes:
Mr. Lakshminarayana expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for granting the South Coast Railway (SCoR) zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on Thursday, Mr. Lakshminarayana stated that people were jubilant over the formation of the new zone as it would trigger tremendous socio-economic development in the backward north Andhra region.
It was a great thing to sanction 39 institutions to the residual State of Andhra Pradesh, and it could not have happened without the Prime Minister’s support, he said.
“Mr. Modi will be remembered forever in the north Andhra region for and by the people of the State for doing a lot in five years,” he said.