'It was TDP that developed Telangana'

HYDERABAD: In a challenge to the TRS, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday demanded a debate on Telangana and insisted that it was the TDP that was majorly responsible for its development.
"There should be a debate on Telangana. When compared to 1956 and now, Telangana and Hyderabad have progressed a lot. And the TDP has contributed substantially to this development.I never wanted to stop bifurcation, all I wanted was equal justice for both the states. But the Congress cheated the Andhra people by leaving it without a capital," he said, while kicking off the three-day TDP Mahanadu at Gandipet here on Wednesday.
In his nearly 30-minute speech, Naidu defended his two-eye theory, in which he had described Telangana and AP as his eyes and had said he would strive equally for their development. Referring to the depiction of the 1000-pillar temple and a statue of Buddha on the Mahanadu dais, Naidu said: "The TDP is the only party that can bring the symbol of Kakatiya in Warangal and Buddha of Amaravati together. I can challenge that no other party in both the states can bring identities and people together in this way." Naidu added that every time he visits Delhi on official work, he insists that central benefits reach both the states.
Meanwhile, the chief minister once again extended an olive branch to his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao, urging the TRS regime to work along with his party for the development of the new state. At the same time, Naidu was critical of the functioning of the Telangana government and charged KCR with attempting to divide the people of the two states.
"Our rivalry should be confined to the political arena and not be extended to the people. The TDP and TRS should work together for the welfare of the Telugu people. All issues can be discussed and resolved. If need be, we can request the Centre to act as the mediator," the AP CM said.
Naidu, however, assailed the TRS for luring TDP leaders into its fold.
The TDP president, in the meantime expressed hope that despite difficulties, Andhra Pradesh, with its strong resources, can reach number 3 position on the development indicator by 2022. Naidu especially thanked the farmers for parting with their land for the construction of the new capital.
"The YSR Congress party is trying to instill fear among the farmers in Amaravati, but it will not succeed� Despite being backed by the YSR Congress, my government will not spare a single red sanders smuggler and will bring them all to book. Our party is in existence for more than three decades, but we do not have our own media. In contrast, the main opposition party, with the help of the media houses it owns, is trying to defame us," he said.