Narsapuram Lok Sabha member K Raghurama Krishnam Raju is mincing no words in speaking his mind regarding the decisions of his own party and Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy. In his latest barb, he ridiculed Jagan for not openly stating his intention to shift capital from Amaravati and using euphemism of ‘decentralisation’. He pooh poohed the claim of the government to set up executive capital in the ‘backward north Andhra’. “Vizag has steel plant, shipyard, Gangavaram port, pharma companies, many Central PSUs like BHEL,” he reminded adding that Bhogapuram airport is coming in the backward Vizianagaram district. Srikakulam too is going to have NTPC power plant apart from a sea port. He also said the district has pharma companies owned by YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy’s relatives.
Raghurama Krishnam Raju made it clear this is not ‘decentralisation’ as claimed by Jagan and his ministers, but ‘centralisation of power’. “Claiming that the government is going to develop the already developed regions is a big joke. The YSRCP government is giving more comic relief to people than the scenes in Jandhyala, EVV Satyanarayana and Basu Bhattacharya,” he said.
Stating that the people are peace loving and can’t bear hooliganism, he appealed to the ruling party to leave Vizagites alone. “If the government is sincere in its decentralization, it should keep High Court in Amaravati and shift legislative capital to Rayalaseema,” he suggested. “It would be ideal to make Seema legislative capital as it is comparatively close to Bengaluru which will attract industries. Even Pulivendula, Jagan’s native place, would be for legislative capital,” he added, in a sarcastic note.
On the Central government’s affidavit in High Court regarding state capital, he expressed disappointment over Centre repeating its stance that the Union government has nothing to do with the capital. But he sees some positive aspects in the affidavit. “Centre said the state government had not informed it of its decision to annul CRDA. How can the state government take such crucial decisions without Centre’s knowledge? The affidavit mentions that Centre will not interfere in the issue of ‘capital’ but not ‘capitals’,” he said while asserting that justice will be done to Amaravati and its farmers.
