Modi’s call fails to pacify Naidu

Adamant CM sticks to his guns on SCS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort to pacify the Telugu Desam (TD) failed with two TD ministers, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y.S. Chowdary, on Thursday resigning from the Central government, a day after TD supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu indicated that his party was considering quitting the BJP-led NDA government.

Two hours after Mr Modi spoke to Mr Naidu on the telephone on Thursday, TD MPs submitted their resignations to the Prime Minister.

Mr Modi had called Mr Naidu at 4.30 pm, after he returned to Delhi from Rajasthan.

According to sources, the conversation lasted 15 minutes.

Mr Naidu is said to have told the Prime Minister that he had tried to contact him the previous night to let him know that the ministers would resign but Mr Modi was unavailable. The PM is said to have replied that, “When I was not available you should have waited for some more time,” to which Mr Naidu said, “No sir, this is the party’s decision. We cannot go back.”

When the Prime Minister suggested, “We can sit and discuss and sort out the issues,” Mr Naidu replied that “this is a sentimental issue. If the Centre wants, it can give special status to AP now. Without this we cannot withdraw the decision on resignations of TD ministers. Our MPs (ministers) will meet you and submit their resignations.”

Lord Venkateswara has been dragged into the ongoing debate regarding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. TD MPs carried idols of the Lord as they staged a dharna in front of Gandhi statue within the Parliament premises on Thursday.

Maganti Venkateswara Rao, Avanthi Srinivas, J.C. Diwakar Reddy and N. Sivaprasad were among the protesting MPs. When the media asked them why they were carrying idols of Lord Venkateswara with them, Mr Venkateswar Rao said, “Lord Venkateswara is a popular god in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made promises to AP, in front of Lord Venkateswara, during his election campaign in Tirupati. We have brought idols of the Lord here so that Mr Modi will remember his promises.”

Two days ago, Mr Sivaprasad came dressed as Lord Venkateswara to warn the Central government about the consequences of not fulfilling the promises made to AP in the AP Reorganisation Act.