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'Centre betrayed Andhra people'

New Delhi: Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying it the special status that was promised during the bifurcation in 2014, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said that slogans like "cooperative federalism" and "team India" have become bogus.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party has followed the Congress way in betraying the state, which has suffered economic loses because of the "unscientific manner in which the bifurcation was done," Naidu said while addressing reporters at a Press conference in the national capital on Wednesday.
Naidu also sought the support of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, for the no-confidence motion it has moved against the Modi government in Parliament.
"We give them Krishna water. They (AIADMK) should support our cause," Naidu said.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, however, clarified that he was not threatening anyone. "Not long ago Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were together in the Madras presidency," he added.
At the Press conference, Naidu played old videos of Modi's campaign during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which the Prime Minister is seen guaranteeing the special status. "We are not seeking anything extra. Only want what you promised," Naidu added.
He said on February 9, 2018, the Union government released Rs 350 crore as part of special development package for backward districts. But in an unprecedented move, this money was taken back on February 15 on the instructions of the prime minister's office.
Earlier in the day, Naidu met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal as part of his efforts to mobilise support for the no-confidence motion moved by his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) against the Centre. The two leaders also discussed the special category status (SCS) promised to the southern state.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee thanked Naidu for his good wishes. In her tweet, Banerjee said, "Many thanks Chandrababu Naidu Ji for your good wishes. We will work together."
In a counter attack, the BJP alleged Naidu of playing the blame-game and levelling false allegation against the party. While speaking to reporters, at the party headquarters, Union HRD Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said, "I am very pained to see our erstwhile partner playing the blame-game."
Javadekar further added that BJP makes friends and does not have the habit of ditching. He also claimed that the BJP and TDP fought together against the Congress and now the CM is joining the Congress leaders.
"The BJP-TDP together won the assembly election and worked for the development of the state. We will prefer public services rather than friendship," he said, adding that in politics, all parties are free to take any decision, but parties should not indulge in dubious politics. BJP Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson GVL Narshima Rao also suggested that the allegations against the Centre should not be done and it shows lack of credible politics.
"We never attack any region and people. The Centre rather fast-tracked every project, expedited environment clearances for building Amravati," Javadekar said, adding that our party president Amit Shah has also mentioned in his letter that Centre is committed to the development of the southern state.
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