GUNTUR/ KURNOOL: Responding to the reports that a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him with regard to the protest staged in Maharashtra eight years ago, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said he only opposed the Babli project as it would make North Telangana a desert. “I heard about the reports of court case and issuance of arrest warrant against me. I did not commit any crime. In the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh, I protested against Babli on Godavari river as it was a project within a project that would harm the interests of North Telangana,” he said, while addressing farmers after performing ‘Jala Siriki Harathi’ at Nagarjuna Sagar in Guntur district on Friday evening.
Naidu alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been ‘instigating’ YSRC chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan against him till now, was now provoking Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao against him. He accused the BJP government of trying to arrest him by raking up an old case.
He said, “Babli project would make North Telangana a desert. Hence, I fought against the project as an Opposition Leader. I did not commit any crime and I am ready to fight for the cause of the people without any fear of the court notices. I will continue my Dharma Poratam against the BJP government.”
Earlier in the day, addressing a public meeting after performing Jala Siriki Harathi at Srisailam in Kurnool district, the CM said Maharashtra police arrested him along with other TDP leaders, while they were protesting against Babli project eight years ago.“I told them that we were not doing anything wrong and asked them to do what they wanted. A case was registered. Later, we were shifted to Hyderabad by a special flight. All my concern was that Babli project would make North Telangana a desert,” he said.
Naidu reiterated that everything he does is for the future generations.
An arrest warrant was issued by the Dharmabad court in Nanded district of Maharashtra on Thursday against Naidu and 15 others pertaining to the case in 2010. Police were asked to arrest Naidu and other TDP leaders in connection with the case and produce them before the court on September 21.
Condemning the issuance of arrest warrant by Maharashtra court, TDP leaders described it as a conspiracy of the BJP against Chief Minister Naidu. They demanded that the Maharashtra government withdraw the case against the CM and TDP leaders immediately. They also questioned the silence of TRS leaders on the issue as Naidu fought for the cause of North Telangana in the erstwhile undivided AP.