VIJAYAWADA: Taking exception to the remarks of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his ministers against the Narendra Modi government, State BJP president Kanna Lakshminarayana has dared Naidu to conduct a CBI inquiry into the allegations of misappropriation and diversion of Central funds levelled against him and his government.
Participating in the protest organised by the party in the city on Monday to condemn the TDP remarks against the Modi government, Kanna said the TDP government was steeped neck deep in corruption.
“We are ready to prove what we have said and are even ready to go to jail if we fail to prove our charges. Will Naidu dare to order a CBI inquiry against him in the wake of allegations levelled against him and his government,” he demanded to know. He reminded that in the past whenever such allegations were made against the Chief Ministers, CBI probe used to be ordered to come out clean.
He said when the Central government is funding the insurance for the workers, Naidu named the scheme as Chandranna Bima. “It is Central funding, which is given for various schemes, including housing project for rural and urban poor, but Naidu claims credit for the same,” he ridiculed.Speaking on the occasion, senior BJP leader Daggubati Purandeswari said TDP leaders assume that they can say anything against the BJP. “Today’s protest should serve them as a warning. If they think, we will keep silent, if our party workers are physically attacked, they are wrong,” she said.
Purandeswari wondered how can Naidu claim credit for Polavaram project when it is being funded and monitored by the Central government. Other leaders, including former minister P Manikyala Rao, also found fault with the attitude of the TDP government.
Meanwhile, TDP activists led by MLC Buddha Venkanna, took out a rally from Kesineni Bhavan in the city and staged a protest near the BJP’s protest camp at Dharna Chowk. On the other hand, Energy Minister K Kala Venkata Rao taking exception to State BJP chief’s statement, demanded him to show evidence to support his allegations. “It has become a habit of Kanna to criticise the TDP since he became State BJP president. He should uphold the decorum of his position of being a State president of the national party and refrain from making baseless allegations against the TDP,” he said.
The minister questioned the claims of the BJP of its victory in 2019 polls and demanded to explain how many seats will the saffron party win in every district. “In 2014, because of the tie-up with the TDP, the BJP managed to get a few seats. Now, it cannot even win a single seat in the State,” he said.