Hyderabad: Senior Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Somu Veerraju on Tuesday criticised the functioning of the TD government, in which the BJP is a partner. He said the TD should desist from criticising the Centre for not according special category status and follow the coalition dharma in true spirit.
The BJP national council member and MLC, at a media conference here, criticised TD leaders for making a hue and cry on the special status issue. He hit out at them for painting a picture as if the Centre was solely responsible for the situation, and that without special status AP, will not survive due to mounting revenue deficit in the Budget.
“If that is true, how did CM N. Chandrababu Naidu to waive Rs 10,000 crore loans to farmers? How could the state spend Rs 1,600 crore for the Godavari Pushkaralu? How did he give Rs 350 crore Chandranna Kanuka during Sankranti?” Mr Veerraju asked.
He also asked why Mr Naidu and other ministers were not talking about the positive aspects and the help AP got from the Centre in the last 14 months.
“Who provided 24x7 power supply for AP? Who gave Rs 6,000 crore towards digital programmes to AP? Who released Rs 10,000 crore for special schemes? Why is only the special status issue being raked up repeatedly?” Mr Veerraju said.
He said that at a recent meeting of AP BJP leaders at Visakhapatnam, all these aspects had been discussed and it had been decided that party leaders should take on the state government on all public issues.
“For example, the two main issues concerning the state are sand and rice supply. The present sand policy needs to be changed as a one kg of sand is being sold at Rs 3 whereas one kg of rice through PDS is supplied for just Rs 1. Mafia leaders are engaged in sand trade all over the state. We demand a total change of policy on sand,” he said.
He also demanded changes in procurement of rice as the public was having to buy rice in the open market at Rs 40 per kg. “Farmers are getting Rs 1,250 per 75-kg bag of paddy. After milling, 50 kg rice is realised and the rest goes as rice brawn and broken rice. If the government purchases the entire lot from farmers directly, it can mill the paddy and supply rice at less than Rs 30.”
