VIJAYAWADA: BJP State president Kanna Lakshminarayana met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. On the occasion, Kanna requested the Prime Minister to expedite the implementation of pending bifurcation assurances to which Modi reacted positively. Kanna is scheduled to meet BJP national president Amit Shah on Wednesday to discuss the future course of action on the political front.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting in New Delhi, Kanna, who called on the PM for the first time after assuming charge as the State party president, said that he had given a 12-point letter requesting the PM for faster implementation of the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act.
“I have come to formally meet PM Modi who wanted me to convey that he was with the people of Andhra Pradesh,” Kanna said.The BJP state unit is planning to invite PM Modi for the foundation-laying ceremony of the steel plant in Kadapa. Kanna also requested the PM to visit the State to which the latter said he would consider.Kanna said that the letter he submitted to the PM sought a positive decision on Visakahapatnam railway zone, Kadapa steel plant, Tribal University, port at Ramayapatnam instead of Dugarajapatnam, petrochemical complex in Kakinada, more release of funds for the construction of educational institutions and others.
“I have also requested the PM to approve metro rail projects in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, enhance funds to backward districts from `50 crore per district to `150 crore, give GST incentive to the seven backward districts, announce special industrial corridors in four Rayalaseema districts, allot more funds for tribal and fishermen development and give tax incentives for start-ups and incubation centres,” he added.
He lambasted Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for leading the charge against the BJP by making false accusations. “Naidu failed to get the funds from the special package as he did not form the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The Centre is still ready to give funds once the State government forms the SPV,” Kanna said.
Later, IT Minister and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh took to Twitter to counter Kanna’s allegations. “This is the letter given to @narendramodi ji by APBJP President. Just wondering, if BJP claims that it fulfilled 90% promises, then why is the list as tall as Qutub Minar & why does it not mention #SpecialStatus? They shud stop false propaganda & fulfill all promises made to AP (sic),” he tweeted along with the letter Kanna submitted to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, BJP MLC PVN Madhav, in a press meet in Vijayawada, alleged that the TDP government was escalating the costs of the affordable housing project for kickbacks.“While the government claims that it is using technology to complete 6.8 lakh houses at the earliest, it is increasing the cost. Instead of bringing the cost down by using technology, the government has increased it two-fold to favour the contractors for kickbacks. The government should stop this looting,” he demanded.
President of state Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha S Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said that elections were pending in four municipalities. “If panchayat elections don’t happen, the funds from Finance Commission would not be released. Doesn’t Naidu know this?” he questioned. He also said that the State government was using police to silence the people who are trying to raise public issues.