New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that opposition parties have political and ideological compulsions but they have to move forward on the basis of “what is right” to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Naidu, who addressed a press conference here, attacked the Narendra Modi government saying people were feeling betrayed and opposition parties should find ways to come together in the overall interest of the country.
Earlier in the day Naidu met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Loktrantrik Janata Dal Sharad Yadav as part of his efforts to forge larger front against the BJP government for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Asked if he could be convenor of a Third Front, Naidu did not give a direct answer, but noted that coalition governments “have done well” and their “policies are very clear.”
He said India had “Hindu growth rate” during a long period of Congress dominance and economic reforms were initiated by the Narasimha Rao government, which did not have a full majority on its own.
Going into the coalition governments formed at the Centre including the National Front and United Front governments, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has run a full majority government but “it is very bad for the nation.”
Asked about his meeting with BSP chief Mayawati, Naidu said he could not reveal the details.
“What is right, (on that basis) we have to move forward. There are political compulsions, there are ideological compulsions…and overall interest of the nation — how to join together,” he said.
Naidu, whose party quit the Modi government and the ruling National Democratic Alliance earlier this year, talked about the possibility of post-poll tie-ups.
“After elections, some big people may come. (At present) there is pressure from central government. It is a continuous process,”he said.
Asked about his stance on Congress, Naidu said the two parties are part of an alliance against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti in Telangana.
He said Congress had divided the state but it had promised special status which the BJP-led government did not implement.
Naidu accused Modi government of failing to fulfill its promises and said measures such has demonetisation had caused suffering to people.
He said while fraudesters had left the country, the banks were facing mounting non-performing assets.
The TDP leader said the rupee had considerably depreciated and petroleum prices had touched record levels.
Naidu said opposition leaders were being victimised and targeted by the Modi government.
Leaders meeting to keep India’s diversity alive: Farooq Abdullah
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that different leaders are meeting to find a way to keep the diversity of India alive.
Abdullah’s remarks came after meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is meeting with a number of top politicos in the national capital.
Speaking to reporters post his meeting with Naidu, Abdullah said, “The chief minister came and he is trying to see whether we can save the diversity of India and unite India with its diversity. So that everybody from poor to rich feels he belongs to this nation and will work for the progress of this nation. Today the nation is in dismay, the prices have gone to the sky, the farmers are self-killing themselves, and poor are getting poorer. For this, the leaders are going to meet and find a way forward to keep this diversity alive and to keep India alive.”
The NC Chief, however, said that they are not yet deciding on who will be the leader of the opposition and are focusing on whether all parties can sit together and think of how to take the country forward.
“We have to save the country first. Anyone can only become Prime Minister when there is a majority. For now, we have to prepare ourselves to get that majority. Once we have it, the prime minister will also be appointed as per majority. It is not important to decide on a face but saving the country is our priority,” he said.
With inputs from IANS/ANI