TDP’s decision to quit unilateral, Shah says
NAIDU DECRIES OPEN LETTER AS BEING ‘FULL OF FALSE INFORMATION’
BJP President Amit Shah unleashed a belligerent attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, saying his “unilateral” decision to quit the NDA was for political considerations and not development, triggering a bitter war of words between the two yesterday. Naidu hit back at Shah’s open letter to him, saying it was “full of false information” that hurt the sentiments of the Telugu people.
The BJP chief’s March 23-dated letter formalised the split between the two allies, a week after the TDP pulled out of the NDA over the demands for special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
Shah described as “untrue and baseless” the TDP chief’s allegations that the BJP was not sensitive to the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
‘Funds not utilised’
He said the central government had released Rs10.5 billion (Dh590 million) in the first three years since coming to power as special development assistance for seven backward districts of the state.
“Surprisingly, the state has spent only 12 per cent of this amount and 88 per cent remains unutilised.”
Shah termed as “nothing but a figment of your imagination” the chief minister’s claims that the Central government had asked the amount be taken back because it was released without PMO’s sanction.
He accused the Naidu government of “some serious lapses... which can’t be ignored”.
He said he had learned that the Centre had not received appropriate details of developmental fund utilisation.
The BJP chief said utilisation certificates were received only for 12 per cent of the grant released for backward districts in 2016-17 and for only eight per cent for Rs10 billion released for the capital region. This, he said, reflected a “governance deficit”.
Shah said the BJP was committed to the cause of development of Andhra Pradesh but Naidu allowed the mandate earned by the two parties “be squandered for political reasons”.
“Unfortunately, partisan politics has overtaken leading to your party leaving the NDA.”
Naidu replied to Shah’s letter in the state Assembly, alleging that the BJP chief misrepresented the facts.
“Amit Shah’s letter is full of false information, which shows their attitude. Even now, the Centre is providing special benefits to north-eastern states. Had Andhra Pradesh been given the same hand-holding, many industries would have come to the state,” said Naidu.