BJP using Jagan Mohan Reddy, Pawan Kalyan: Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad/Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is at loggerheads with his ally at the Centre, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, suspects a conspiracy against his government.  He has accused the BJP of promoting the YSR Congress of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Jana Sena of Pawan Kalyan and encouraging them to create hurdles for the Telugu Desam government.

“A few individuals are working secretly against the TD government and have a hidden understanding with the Union Government,” Mr Naidu said in the Assembly on Thursday. In a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Naidu alleged that the PM has cheated the people of AP by not giving special status to AP. He alleged that Mr Modi had not implemented the assurances he had given and was now provoking some people against the TD. Without naming Pawan Kalyan he said he was puzzled by comments on corruption after four years of friendship.

On Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan had accused his ally of promoting corruption in the state, and his son Nara Lokesh of being involved in a scam. However, he was careful not to attack the BJP. The Chief Minister didn’t expect this attack from his trusted friend of the last four years.  Mr Naidu said in the Assembly that while the TD is combating the YSRC in the state, the Union Government is supporting Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy by releasing the attachments of assets by the Enforcment Directorate. The Chief Minister said he is still in the NDA, but is not being informed about developments related to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s cases.

Citing another case, he said that Union Minister Piyush Goel gave an appointment to YSRC MPs but not to his party’s MPs who had sought one. “Which is BJP’s alliance party, the YSRC or the TD?” Mr Naidu queried.  He questioned the credibility and integrity of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in giving appointments to the accused in several cases.  The special status issue has been overshadowed by this triangular fight of the BJP-TD-YSRC parties.  Mr Naidu’s main objection is that the Centre has been grabbing the rights of the states and the states are being subjected to harassment.