Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a bitter clash between the ruling Telugu Desam Party and the main Opposition YSR Congress party over the allegations of irregularities in Pattiseema project. The YSRCP also alleged that Naidu was hurrying up Pattiseema lift irrigation project at the cost of Polavaram project.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who lost cool over the allegations published in a Telugu daily owned by leader of Opposition and YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy, said that the Opposition was trying to derail the Polavaram project by levelling baseless charges.
As Naidu went hammer and tongs describing the leader of Opposition ‘mad’, angry YSRCP members rushed to the Speaker’s podium shouting slogans. Naidu also alleged that Jagan was acting at the behest of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Pattiseema lift irrigation project, involving the diversion of flood waters of river Godavari into river Krishna and supplying the same to the drought prone Rayalaseema region, was awarded by the State Government to a private sector company MEIl.
While the Opposition said that Rs12000 crore project was awarded to the company at a higher than bench mark price, Naidu defended the decision and warned the Opposition against any attempt to mislead the people.
“If you continue to act crazy, you will not be able to go to the people again”, Naidu said amid chaotic scenes. Naidu was infuriated over repeated interruptions when he was trying to counter the allegations of irregularities.
He questions how KCR (Telangana Chief Minister) can object to Pattiseema project when it is aimed at utilising the water which is going waste into the sea. “from what Jagan is saying it is clear that he was in favor of KCR and against supply of water to Rayalaseema”, Naidu said.
“If anybody indulges in propaganda against the interest of the State he will have to be accountable to the people”, he said.
In a no hold barred attack on Jagan, he reminded that he was nothing before his father became the Chief Minister. “This is not Idupulapaya (Jagan’s family Estate) or lotus Pond (his residence) to talk as you wish”, Naidu said.
As YSRCP members shouted slogans of “down down” against Naidu, the Chief Minster said, “you are uncivilised people. You have made a mockery of democracy. You don’t have any shame. You are not human being. We will expose your reality. We will not spare you. Stop playing crazy games.
Targeting Sakshi newspaper of Jagan he said, the paper was running on ill-gotten money and they were writing anything they want to create misgivings among the people.
“When your father could not succeed in goodndaism, what are you”, Naidu quipped.
On Polavaram project Naidu exuded confidence that NDA Government will complete the project in time.
later Jagan responded to Naidu’s attack by saying his only aim was to abuse the Opposition in the Assembly. Talking to the media at the Assembly premises Jagan said that the ruling party was obstructing the debate fearing that Naidu regime’s corruption will be exposed. He alleged that there were unprecedented irregularities in favor of a few business houses. “The Opposition is denied mike at the slightest hint of reference to Chief Minister and TDP members are given chance to speak for protracted speeches and we are deprived of chance of putting our viewpoint on the flood of the House”, he said.