Hyderabad: “Who fears whom” is now the biggest question in Andhra Pradesh politics in the aftermath of the Centre all but rejecting the state’s plea for special category status.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, reacting to criticism by his political opponent Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy that he feared Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said he “feared none” and people are (his) high command.
Mr Naidu has not stopped his men from criticising Mr Modi, and Telugu Desam Anantapur MP J.C. Diwakar Reddy said that Mr Modi “fears” Mr Naidu, and that is why the Centre “wants to crush him.” He said only Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Mr Naidu are “big leaders who can be an alternative to Mr Modi.”
“Mr Naidu is the biggest political enemy of Mr Modi. The BJP-TD divorce will happen. However, we will abide by the CM’s decision,” Mr Diwakar Reddy said.
MLC Buddha Venkanna alleged that the Prime Minister was “taking revenge on Mr Naidu as he had taken a stand against Mr Modi during the post-Godhra riots.”
Mr Naidu said, “Jagan is speaking like a lunatic. Instead of questioning the Centre for not granting special category status, Jagan is saying cases will be booked against me. If Jagan, who faces CBI and ED corruption cases, doesn’t fear the Centre, will I fear? Chargesheet has been filed against Jagan on Saturday again. I will not be afraid of anyone. I will act as per the will of the people who are my high command,”
Mr Naidu has said that if Mr Modi spends two hours on the issues facing AP, all the problems that the state faces will be resolved. Mr Naidu has reportedly told MPs not to be “fearful of the BJP.” “No one is our relative. We have to fight for the people of AP,” he is believed to have said.
Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy had said that Mr Naidu compromised on the interests of the state “fearing cases and exposure of corruption” in construction of the capital Amaravati, Pattiseema, Sadavarthi ashram land scam and other irregularities.”
Former Congress MP Vundavalli Aruna Kumar said, “When Mr Modi was Gujarat CM, he sat on dharnas. Mr Naidu should question Mr Modi on special status. He should hold a dharna in Delhi. The Centre should tell when the Polavaram project will be completed and when the railway zone for Visakhapatnam will be announced.”
