BJP up in arms as Andhra Pradesh ‘forgets’ Modi in posters

Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday questioned AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu why Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photos were not being used on posters and publicity materials of Swachh Andhra and other government schemes when central funds were being used for them.

BJP MLC Somu Veerraju also wanted Mr Naidu to answer why his government was silent when effigies of the Prime Minister were being burnt by Left parties demanding special status.

Mr Veerraju told DC, “Centre is giving Rs 12,000 for each toilet under the scheme and the state has to give Rs 3000, which they are not giving. Swachh Bharat funds are used for Swachh Andhra. But nowhere are PM Modi’s pictures seen. In Telangana however, the PM?s photos, along with those of Union minister J.P. Nadda and TS CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao are used for materials publicizing the Indra Dhanassu scheme, an immunization programme taken up with central funds.”

The BJP MLC alleged that in Andhra Pradesh, most central schemes were publicized as state schemes without the photos of the PM. He said, “Naidu could pay part of the loan waiver when the state was in crisis only because of the help of the central government. Also, 24-hour power supply has been achieved by AP with the Centre’s help. If Naidu is so capable why couldn’t he achieve these during his previous regime? Why did the then Congress government led by YSR fail to achieve it? The power situation today in AP is all because of the Centre’s contribution. That’s why AP could get second rank in the World Bank report.”

“When there is Swachh Bharat, why should it be called Swachh AP? The Centre’s Smart City scheme has been taken and named Smart Village and Smart Ward. Digital India and Skill India are named as Digital AP and Skill AP. All are central government schemes. What is the state government doing? What are your schemes?,” the BJP leader questioned.

“Why are you (Naidu) quiet when Modi’s effigies are burnt? Cases were booked when Naidu’s effigies were burnt. But there’s no action now. TD, Congress and YSRC failed to ask for benefits for AP, it was the BJP that fought for the state,” he said, pointing out that the Centre had already granted Rs 1850 crore for the capital construction and the money was enough to construct 1 crore sq. ft of built up area for the capital.

“Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has granted Rs 1000 crore under urban development for Krishna and Guntur. Outer Ring Road has been approved for the capital.

The Centre is ready to give Rs 3,600 crore for Buckingham Canal from Kakinada as part of inland waterways and has asked the state to acquire land. For coastal corridor too the Centre has given huge funds. For Digital India, Rs 6000 crore has been given to AP. “Is it not part of development,” Mr Veerraju asked

“There are constraints for special status. The Telugu Desam is trying to defame BJP and they are not telling the people what the Centre has done for Andhra Pradesh,” Mr Veerraju alleged.