(Online Desk)

Taking strong exception to the remarks made by BJP leaders that Rayalaseema region has been ignored, Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has said those criticising him should not forget the fact that he too belongs to Rayalaseema. During a tele-conference with TDP leaders from his residence in Undavalli on Saturday, the TDP chief was informed about the declaration passed by the BJP in its Rayalaseema regional meeting in Kurnool alleging injustice meted out to the Rayalaseema region.

The Chief Minister said the TDP government had developed Rayalaseema and ensured water to it. Naidu added that people are well aware of the fact.Giving examples of establishing  Kia Motors in Anantapur and Fox Con in Chittoor district, Naidu said people had recognised the TDP’s intention to develop the Rayalaseema region.

Alleging that the BJP leaders are resorting to dramas in the name of Rayalaseema when the TDP is raising voice demanding fulfilment of the issues mentioned in the AP State Reorganisation Act for the overall development of the State, the TDP leaders participated in the tele-conference found fault with the saffron leaders for raising the Rayalaseema issue all of a sudden. They criticised the demands of the BJP leaders to set up second state capital and High Court in the Rayalaseema region.

Can the BJP set up a Supreme Court bench in Kurnool and make Amaravati second sapital of the country, they demanded to know. However, Naidu directed the TDP leaders not to divert their attention and concentrate on their work for the benefit of the State. Making it clear that there is no politics in mounting pressure on the Centre, the Chief Minister said the NDA government had failed in keeping its promises made to the State.

“One thing is clear that we are working for benefit of the State,” he said and suggested the TDP leaders not to make individual remarks against BJP leaders.

No deadlines will make or break the deal: Hari Babu: In Visakhapatnam, the BJP MP K Hari Babu on Saturday said that extension of support to AP by the Centre is a continuous process and that no deadlines would make or break the deal. Referring to the TDP leaders demanding that the Centre clear the air on the grant of Special Category Status to AP and allocations to the state by March 5, Hari Babu said in the last three and a half years, he said, almost all the promises made by the Centre have been fulfilled. “We have still one year to go. So it is needless to say that the BJP has done nothing for the state,” Hari Babu said. Asked whether the TDP and BJP continue with the alliance, Hari Babu said that the coalition would continue until there are TDP leaders at the Centre and BJP leaders in the state.

APCC chief writes to PM seeking justice to AP: Meanwhile, APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy has written an an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to fulfil the promises made to the State by Centre.

In the letter, the Congress leader said that when AP Reorganisation Bill was introduced in Parliament, the BJP, which was the Opposition at the time, extended its support and the House enacted the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.  Further, during the debate in the Rajya Sabha, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made certain announcements. At that time, BJP leaders have made promises inside Parliament and outside to help the State. However, in every budget since 2014, people of AP were left disappointed with lack of sizeable allocations to the State.