PM slams Naidu, says he has only replicated Centre’s schemes

Naveen S Grewal
Tribune News Service
Guntur (AP), February 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu, saying he has made a “U-turn” on promises of development to the state and only trying to replicate NDA government’s schemes.

Read: TDP protests against PM Modi’s visit to Andhra Pradesh

Anti-Modi posters appear across Andhra Pradesh ahead of PM’s visit

“Our government gave to Andhra Pradesh much more than what was mentioned in special status. CM of Andhra Pradesh acknowledged this package but took a U-turn as they failed to use the funds in the appropriate way and were not able to develop the state,” Modi said, addressing a public rally here.

Modi lashed out at Naidu for aligning with the Congress, saying the former chief minister NT Ramarao (NTR) had launched the party to make Andhra Pradesh “Congress-mukt” after he was a victim of its “arrogance”.

Naidu was indeed a senior to him, but only in losing elections, switching alliances and ditching his father-in-law NT Rama Rao, Modi said.

“He keeps reminding me he is senior. There is no debate on this. I have never shown any disrespect to you since you are a senior. You are a senior in changing alliances.

“A senior biting the back of your own father-in-law. A senior in losing one election after the other, where as I am not,” the Prime Minister said.

Further, Naidu was senior in embracing tomorrow those whom he would abuse today, Modi said.

Modi alleged Naidu was taking him on since the Centre had sought details of every paise given to Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu had promised walking in the footsteps of NTR, Modi said and asked if the Chief Minister had lived by it.

“The arrogance of Delhi (during the Congress rule) has always insulted states... and NTR, that is why decided to make AP Congress-mukt and floated the TDP.

The TDP leader who has to resist the arrogance of the naamdaars (famous and powerful people) and crush their arrogance is siding with them,” he said in an apparent swipe at Naidu joining hands with the Congress.

“This chowkidar (watchman) has disturbed his sleep... wanted to know the details of every paise given to Andhra Pradesh,” Modi said.

Naidu promised the sunrise of Andhra Pradesh but is fixated with the rise of his own son N Lokesh, Modi charged.

The Chief Minister promised the redevelopment of Amaravati but is now engaged in his own development, the Prime Minister alleged.

He said Naidu had not initiated any new programmes for the poor but was only putting his stamp on the NDA government’s development schemes.

This is Modi’s first visit to the state after the ruling Telugu Desam Party severed ties with the NDA.

Clean energy

Modi said his government was working on making the country a clean energy economy.

He said his government was developing oil and petroleum reserves across the country, including one by ONGC near Visakhapatnam.  

“Our government is developing petroleum hubs across the country to help make the economy pollution-free.  The hubs will also in distributing gas. New Bharat can only be possible with a pollution-free economy,” he said.

Modi, who began his speech in Telugu but switched to Hindi, said that the coming years would see many cities in the country “partner” in the government’s clean energy objective.

“One the one hand, we talk of gas based clean economy. At the same time we are giving 6.25 crore poor people free gas connections through the Ujwala Yojana,” he said.

“India started with LPG connections in 1955. There are currently 13 crore gas connections under my government compared to 9 crore previously. Today 90 per cent people are covered by gas connections,” he said.