A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address a public rally in Guntur, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Andhra Pradesh president Kimidi Kala Venkat Rao took on the Prime Minister over a number of issues, including special category status.
In a strong-worded letter to Prime Minister Modi, Rao claimed that the former shared "friendship" with Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. He alleged that Prime Minister Modi was behaving "more revengeful" towards Andhra Pradesh since its bifurcation in 2014.
"You and your party members are recapitulating by saying so many things have done to the state. Have you done anything else except unfaithfulness, cheating, dishonesty, revenge to the state of Andhra Pradesh? You are treating the state badly even than rival countries," Rao asserted.
Posing a series of questions, Rao questioned Prime Minister Modi's intention of visiting the state, adding that he was "cheating" the state "with the deception as your theory."
"First time in Tirupathi, you deceived us by saying you are giving the special category status to the state. The second deception you made at the time of laying down the foundation stone for the construction of capital city Amaravati. Are you coming to Guntur to deceive third time?" Rao wrote in the letter.
Talking about Jagan's corruption case, Rao took a jibe at the Prime Minister, questioning the delay in the investigation, stating "how many decades" will the inquiry take to finish, which is happening only on discharge petitions. "The inquiry has not yet initiated on charges of 11 CBI charge sheets," he said.
Rao stated that Andhra Pradesh was given an allocation of Rs 14,310 crore, as mentioned in the status note. "Amit Shah came and said lies by saying Andhra Pradesh was given 10 lakh crore. Now how much are you going to say as you are coming in?" he added.
Accusing the Prime Minister of holding up funds essential for the state's development, the TDP leader said, "The backward districts were given only Rs 1050 crore than the actual amount Rs 24,350 crore that should be given. The last financial year funds also have taken back. Has the PMO office taken back Rs 350 crore without your interference?"
"The Central Educational Institutions have been given only Rs 845 crore whereas it should be given Rs 12,746 crores in fact. With this kind of allotment, are you saying the youngsters to study at their old age? Is it not discrimination that you are denying funds for the construction of capital city Amaravati, but giving thousands of crores to Dholera city in Gujarat and for the construction of Ahmadabad Convention Centre, Patel and Shivaji statues and bullet train?" Rao asserted.
Questioning that Prime Minister Modi was coming to Andhra Pradesh for "begging" for votes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Rao alleged that the Centre did not take note when Titli and Pethai cyclonic storms ravaged the state.
Prime Minister Modi will address a public meeting titled "Praja Chaitanya Sabha" at Etukuru bypass road near Guntur city on Sunday.
He was expected to visit Guntur on January 6 after a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, but was unable to make it due to his tight schedule.
Further taking a dig at the Prime Minister over his supposed closeness with Jagan, Rao further said, "Your ministers says Jagan as hero. Jagan praise your party as divine. What are the reasons for backing up now even as you told Jagan is emperor of corruption dynasty?"
"Jagan Mohan Reddy's cases have slowed down after TDP have left NDA. Didn't your hand not there in saying the inquiry should happen from the first charge sheet after the bifurcation of high court? The clean chit was given for Jagathi Publication assets which worth 34.5 crores which were attached by ED. You have stopped the attachment of 4.05 crore worth deposits of Jagan's illegal assets. What is the meaning of these acts?" Rao alleged.
Accusing the Centre's promise of building Kadapa Steel Plant and Visaka Railway Zone in the state as a "double game", Rao claimed that Prime Minister Modi filed the charge sheets in the Supreme Court, saying it was not possible to give land for the construction.
Lashing out at the Prime Minister's frequent overseas visit, Rao asserted, "You have found time to visit 92 countries with the expenses of Rs 2029 crore. Have you find time to visit Andhra Pradesh now?"
The TDP, a ruling party of Andhra Pradesh, pulled out from the NDA last year over the demand of special category status which was promised during the bifurcation of the state in 2014. Since then, ties between TDP and BJP have soured.
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