Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

‘We are wounded, we want justice’

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GRIEVANCES Telugu Desam Party chief speaks to HT about his party’s pullout from the NDA, the plan for the 2019 general elections and special category status for the state

They want to damage my image. That is why they are supporting the YSR Congress, which is a tainted party. I am a senior politician of this country. You have to understand that these people have come after me. I was CM in 1995. What I am saying is our people are wounded, they are all suffering, they are all victims.

Why would they want to tarnish the image of an ally like you?

I am having an image for the last 40 years. Nobody can raise a finger at me — my character, credibilit­y, my performanc­e. That is why people believed me. Why these people are harming me or my state is because any tainted party will be under their control. Any good leader will ask what i am asking today. They may not digest that. We are asking for our rights, as a regional party.

Do you think that BJP’s plans to expand is making allies jittery?

Anyone will have an idea to expand their party. In Telangana and Andhra, after bifurcatio­n, there were two states. I had an alliance with the BJP to contest both the states... In two years, they said we don’t have any alliance with the TDP in Telangana. How do you read it? Is it fair? Without even informing an ally, can you do that?

Is the BJP overambiti­ous?

Ambition is one but doing things this way is not acceptable, not a correct approach.

You worked with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now Narendra Modi. What is the difference between the two?

For six-and-a-half years, I never asked NDA-1 for anything. I supported them with 29 members from my party. At that time, I was intrumenta­l for in many reforms — telecom, highways, liberalisa­tion, open sky policies, greenfield airports. But I did not ask for any position at that time. Even today, I say the same thing. The question is why are you not supporting us on what has been committed — that means the intention is different.

What is your personal relationsh­ip with the PM?

Whenever I asked, they said let us see. Whenever I used to go, they said ‘yes, we are doing, yes we are doing, we will work it out.’

One day, it was the UP election; one time Bihar election; one time Delhi election; one time Gujarat election. They went on postponing for the last four years. Even now, in the last budget, you are mentioning Andhra Pradesh’s name.

Is it true that you did not get an appointmen­t with the PM despite asking for it?

I don’t want to blame anybody for all these things. It is the prerogativ­e of the PM ... I wanted to present to him my state’s problems. When he gave me an appointmen­t, I went to him.

What next for you? Is the federal front an option?

I don’t want to comment on politics today. I am asking this nation through this parliament, is it not the responsibi­lity of all the political parties to do justice for Andhra Pradesh?

NEW DELHI

But you will need a government that will consider what you want?

Is it not their responsibi­lity to fulfil what they have committed? It is a commitment of the parliament. How can you violate the act? If everybody will say no, we will violate everything, what will be the sentiment of Andhra? If you betray or create a negative sentiment, it will backfire for the nation.

You have not been with Congress ever

Yes, we have always fought against the Congress.

But are your doors open for (an alliance with) the Congress now?

You know we have done so many experiment­s, we have initiated so many political processes. The national front was initiated by TDP; the united front was initiated by TDP; NDA-1 was with TDP support; we were in the opposition during UPA 1 and 2; we supported and then came out of NDA 2. The political process is always different. As of today, I am fighting for my rights.

But who, according to you, has hurt Andhra more — Congress or BJP?

They (Congress) insulted and humiliated (Andhra Pradesh). After that you (BJP) promised you will do everything, you showed the moon. Now you are not doing anything.

Do you think we are seeing increasing tensions between south India and Delhi?

In south India, there are progressiv­e states because of economic reforms. Now, naturally progressiv­e states should not be penalised. That is my plea from the beginning. If you penalise performing persons or states, nobody will perform. So that is not good for the nation.

We have to create competitio­n among states, on how to increase the performanc­e, how to go for better growth rate and better per capita income.

 ?? PTI ?? TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrabab­u Naidu at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.
PTI TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrabab­u Naidu at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.

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