BJP threatens President's rule in AP

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Monday has brushed aside the threat of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders that President's rule will be imposed in the state if the state government opposes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. The prime minister was supposed to address a meeting on January 6 in Guntur, which was cancelled after the TDP government gave a call asking people to shun the PM’s visit.

State BJP president Kanna Lakshmi Narayana and party Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao, who were in Guntur in connection with union minister Nitin Gadkari’s visit, said that the PM’s visit was not cancelled because of Naidu’s threat. “If it ever happens, President's rule can be imposed in the state for stopping the PM from visiting the state,” Rao said. "Naidu’s four-and-a-half year rule is a sham and publicity stunt."

The BJP leaders said that from here on, at least one union minister will visit Andhra Pradesh to tell the people about the funds released so far for the state’s development. “All the thieves of the nation have joined hands in Kolkata to fight against a single person. Naidu is one of them,” the BJP leaders said.

Responding to the threat of President's rule, Naidu spoke to party leaders on Monday and said that he is not afraid. “No one can touch a popular government like ours,” he said. "The Centre has actually released lesser funds to AP when compared to BJP-ruled states in the country. They gave seven times more funds to UP and five times more to Maharashtra for development of roads.” Naidu said that he wrote a letter to Gadkari asking for the Rs 3,722 crores due from the Centre for the work done on the Polavaram project.

Meanwhile, Gadkari addressed the party cadre in Vijayawada and said that the AP government is refusing to accept the fact that the BJP government has always treated the state with special attention. “Mr Naidu is refusing to accept that fact,” Gadkari said. "The Centre is keen on developing the Amaravati-Anantapur express highway and develop ports at a cost of Rs 1.64 lakh cr in the state."