TDP’s quit-NDA move just politics: Shah

Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, March 24 

BJP president Amit Shah unleashed a belligerent attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, saying his decision to quit the NDA over denial of Special Category status to Andhra Pradesh was for political considerations, triggering a bitter war of words between the two on Saturday.

In an open letter to Naidu, Shah termed the decision of the regional party “unilateral and politically motivated”. He accused the former ally of trying to whip up public sentiments to further its political interests.

Within hours of Shah’s missive, Naidu responded strongly, saying the open letter was “full of false information” and termed it an insult to the people of the state. “Our decision to quit the NDA was taken keeping in mind the state’s development interests and aspirations. The Special Category status must be given at any cost,” Naidu said while speaking in the State Assembly in Vijayawada. He said the NDA did not discharge its responsibility towards its ally and the state.

Rebuffing the BJP chief’s charge that AP had not submitted utilisation certificates for the Central funds, Naidu said, “Does anyone submit Utilisation Certificates for funds received towards bridging revenue deficit? We have submitted these for all Central funds from time to time.”

Earlier, in his letter, Shah had described as “untrue and baseless” the TDP chief’s allegations that the BJP was not sensitive to the aspirations of Andhra people. “I am afraid your decision (to end the alliance with the BJP and exit NDA) will be construed as being guided wholly and solely by political considerations instead of development concerns. This is unilateral and unfortunate,” Shah said.

Refuting the charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to handhold AP, which is grappling with post-bifurcation problems, the BJP chief said, “It is widely known that the Union Government has left no stone unturned in ensuring the growth and prosperity of Andhra Pradesh.”

Holding the Congress responsible for the hasty bifurcation of AP in 2014 and showing zero sensitivity towards the people of the successor state, Shah pointed out that the BJP had lent its voice of support to safeguard the welfare of the Telugu people. 

The TDP, the biggest southern ally of the saffron party, ended the alliance earlier this month after the Centre ruled out granting Special Category status to the state. The 16-member party has also given a no-confidence notice against the NDA government in the Lok Sabha, which could not be taken up due to a continuous uproar in the Lower House.

War of words

‘Unilateral, unfortunate move’

I am afraid your decision (to end the alliance with the BJP and exit NDA) will be construed as being guided wholly and solely by political considerations instead of development concerns. This is unilateral and unfortunate. — Amit Shah, BJP President

‘He is spreading lies’ 

(Amit) Shah’s letter is full of false information, which shows their attitude. Even now, the Centre is providing special benefits to N-E states. Had AP been given the same hand-holding, many industries would have come to the state. — N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh CM

2019 polls: BJP eyes 21 N-E seats 

Guwahati: Addressing a rally of BJP booth unit chiefs here, BJP chief Amit Shah on Saturday set a target of 21 seats of 25 parliamentary constituencies from North-East sin the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “People of NorthEast have realised that the BJP and its PM Narendra Modi’s sincerity towards fast-tracking the development process in N-E and that is why the BJP and its allies are now in power in seven out of eight states in the region,” Shah said. The BJP president said the opposition parties led by the Congress were stalling the proceedings in Parliament as they were scared that discussions would bring to fore the achievements of the BJP-led NDA government during the past four years. — TNS