Modi compares CM Naidu to Bhallala Deva of ‘Baahubali’

Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh): Stepping up his attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday compared him to blockbuster “Baahubali” movie’s primary antagonist Bhallala Deva and accused him of trying to keep power with his family by hook or crook.

Addressing a BJP rally in this town in East Godavari district, Modi repeatedly called the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief ‘U-turn Babu’ and alleged that the TDP has been involved in stealing people’s data.

“I was told that the TDP started a new work which is related to cyber crime through Seva Mitra App, which is neither doing Seva (service) nor is a Mitra (friend), instead, it is stealing people’s data,” said Modi referring to the data theft case booked in Telangana in March against an IT company providing services to the TDP.

Modi alleged that lies, frustration and U-turn have become the identity of the TDP government.

“See the statement he made two years ago and see what he is saying today. He could not do anything but blame others. Such leadership can’t be trusted by the people,” he alleged.

Modi claimed that the BJP wanted to save Andhra Pradesh’s heritage which was under threat from ‘U-turn Babu’. “He is bothered about his own heritage,” Modi said in an obvious reference to Heritage Foods, the dairy company owned by Naidu’s family.

“Standing by one’s word is Andhra’s heritage but U-turn Babu’s heritage is betrayal. Honesty and transparency is Andhra’s heritage but dishonesty and corruption is the heritage of U-turn Babu.”

The BJP leader also alleged that the Polavaram project has become an “ATM” for the TDP government which kept increasing the project’s cost. Stating that the project was hanging fire for four decades, he said the previous governments and the present TDP were partners in the crime.

Claiming that his government declared Polavaram a national project in its very first cabinet meeting, Modi said his government has removed all hurdles and so far released Rs 7,000 crore but “the TDP government had no intention to complete the project”.

Listing out the steps taken by his government during the last five years, Modi pointed out that his government’s decision to make income tax zero for those earning up to Rs 5 lakh has already come into effect from Monday.

He said the government executed many works at a rapid pace without imposing any new tax on people.

He urged people to bring BJP to power both in Andhra Pradesh and at the Centre so that it can continue the good work.

Elections to 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state are scheduled on April 11.

IANS