Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday rubbished the corruption allegations levelled against his government by Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, who in his letter to the CM said that the state has not submitted utilization certificates.
Responding to it, the CM said it was the BJP that was running away and not responding to the challenge posed to it by Telugu Desam Party MP CM Ramesh on the issue.
The CM held a teleconference with the MPs and expressed shock at the way the BJP has been attacking the TDP.
“AP stands no.3 in the country when it comes to submitting utilization certificates,” Naidu told his MPs.
He asked his party MPs to condemn the allegations levelled by the BJP and explain the facts to the state.
Wondering why the BJP was reacting sharply and levelling corruption charges against the state government, he reminded them that when the YSR Congress Party, the Opposition, made such allegations, the BJP had condemned it.
“It’s ironical the BJP is making corruption allegations against the TDP without answering the allegations against it. In fact, when YSRCP charged TDP with corrupt practices, the BJP defended us. Now, all of a sudden, they are levelling baseless charges at us,” he reportedly said.
He said that instead of granting the Special Category Status as per the provisions in the AP Reorganization Act, the BJP was reacting to the state government angrily. “Why is it doing injustice to Andhra Pradesh? The Central government has to assist in the development of the state. Why are we being criticised when we are striving for the state’s development?” The New Indian Express quoted him saying.
Launching an attack on the YSRCP, he said that party MP Vijaya Sai Reddy was no less than businessman Vijay Mallya, who fled the country after defaulting on repaying loans to banks.
He pointed out that while Mallya’s Rajya Sabha membership was revoked, Reddy continues to be a MP and allegedly has close links with the PM.