VIJAYAWADA: Even as the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Opposition parties are mounting pressure on the Centre to accord Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh in view of a such a privilege being bestowed on some states, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Hari Babu has said that he too would support their demand if the detractors of the saffron party proved their claims.
Speaking at the Krishna district party workers’ meeting here on Friday, Hari Babu said, “Some people have been saying that SCS is being continued in a few states. If it were true, I will personally ask BJP to make such a provision for AP. But, I ask them (BJP detractors) to furnish details of the states in which SCS is being continued.”
Interestingly, addressing the TDP parliamentary meeting in which Hari Babu too took part at Vijayawada on Friday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, demanded SCS to AP as it is being extended to some states.
The Visakhapatnam MP came down heavily on the Congress for misleading the public. “Congress leaders now state that they would sign on the SCS file if they are voted to power. But, what did they do when they were in power? They did not incorporate SCS in the draft of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Their statements are ridiculous,” he fumed.
In a similar vein, the BJP state president took potshots at the YSRC leaders saying, “Some people are in confusion. They are wondering if incentives offered to industries are part of SCS. Incentives to industry and SCS are two different things,” Hari Babu observed.
Hari Babu said that BJP’s priority is to develop Andhra Pradesh. “Even though APRA, 2014, states that there is 10 years’ time for implementing the provisions made in it, we have honoured most of them within three to five years. The issues raised by the State government are also being looked into,” he assured.
Asked about the possible breakup of the TDP-BJP relationship, Hari Babu observed that the party’s high command would take a decision ‘if and when necessary’.
Amid the announcement by BJP MLAs expressing readiness to resign from their posts, he said there is no need to panic over the Telugu Desam Legislature Party (TDLP) meeting to be held on Saturday . “Since the assembly sessions would begin next week, it is normal for the party MLAs to meet,” he said.
BJP activists turn ire at yellow brigade
While BJP state president K Hari Babu has exercised restraint while criticising TDP, the party workers used the district-level meeting to turn their ire at the yellow brigade. Finding fault with the TDP for supporting the bandh called by the Left parties last month, Krishna district president of the party Ch Kumara Swamy, said, “While the Left parties, which are nowhere to be seen on the political map of the state, called for a bandh, the TDP declared a holiday a day ahead of it. What kind of an ally would do this?” Other party members also attacked the TDP alleging diversion of funds and absence of transparency in revenue expenditure.