Chandrababu to meet Modi over 'injustice' to Andhra

Hyderabad, Feb 28: Reacting to the "raw deal" meted out to Andhra Pradesh in the union budget, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu Saturday said he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek justice for his state reeling under the impact of bifurcation. Naidu, who is also president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, told reporters here that the budget dashed hopes of people who had reposed faith in the alliance. He said it was the central government's responsibility to ensure that Andhra Pradesh gets all the support and its state capital is developed at par with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. Unhappy over the state not being given special category status and sufficient funds in the union budget, Naidu said he would make all efforts to pursue the centre to undo the injustice done to the state by the previous Congress-led government by dividing the state.

Modi's assurance

Naidu reminded Modi that during the election campaign, they gave assurances to people and made promises. "At an election meeting in Tirupati, Mr. Modi had promised that a world-class capital city would be developed which would be better than Delhi," said the TDP chief. The chief minister said he visited Delhi seven-eight times and met the prime minister, the finance minister and others to explain to them the problems faced by his state and the assistance required to overcome them. "I did not expect this," said Naidu, while pointing out that the budget has nothing to offer to the state.

"I am not going to play petty politics."

The TDP chief said division of the state was a political decision and hence the creation of level-playing field has to be a political decision. He, however, said this would have no impact on his 'friendship' with the BJP-led government. Asked if he would withdraw support to the government, he retorted: "I am not going to play petty politics."