In a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for promoting his son's political career, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people to vote for 'son-set' to ensure 'sunrise' of the state. Speaking to voters in Kurnool district, Modi also asked the citizens of the country to give him a second chance to be the Prime Minister.
Launching BJP's campaign for April 11 elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, he said he was sure that there will also be sunset of corruption in these polls. Modi hit out at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief for dynasty politics and corruption. He alleged that the schemes in the state were designed for scams. He said be it TDP, YSRCP or Congress, he was fighting against this mindset.
Listing out the Central institutes sanctioned for the state and works done by the Centre during last five years, Modi said had he got cooperation from the state government, he would have done more.
"We have cleared permissions for Polavaram irrigation project, we have sanctioned a Central University to Anantapur. NIT, IIT, AIIMS; all these were sanctioned by this ‘chowkidar’ (guardian). It is the same ‘chowkidar’ who accorded the Vizag Railway Zone," Modi said.
"I did my best but those in power have no intention to develop Andhra Pradesh," he added, targeting Naidu, whose TDP walked out of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in 2018.
Calling Naidu 'U-turn Babu' Modi alleged that there was corruption in developing the new state capital and various other projects.
"People know what are the tricks being played and whose coffers are being filled. When your chowkidar raised questions and held him to account, 'U-turn babu' took U-turn from the promise of developing Andhra Pradesh and distanced himself from NDA. U-turn Babu found friends who are on 'bail-gadi' and treading the path where Pakistan is treating them as the hero," said Modi.
He also accused the TDP chief of spreading lies for vested interests and to hide his failures. Pointing out that the TDP and the Congress ruled Andhra Pradesh for decades and Naidu was the Chief Minister for a long time, he said they neglected farmers and cited Polavaram as a living example.
"The project is being built for seven decades. Our government released Rs 7,000 crore but this project remained incomplete as the state government is going on increasing the project cost," he said.
Naidu hits back
However, Naidu was quick to hit back at Modi. Addressing a campaign meeting in East Godavari, Naidu said, "As you don't have children, you don't know the affection and the relationship. You don't know family or friendships, and speak whatever comes to your mouth."
"There is no difference between Modi and a robot without emotions. He doesn't have humanity. There should be relationships and affection in human beings. One should do politics with values but whereas Modi doesn't do such politics,” the Chief Minister added.
IANS inputs