Naidu Should Be Awarded ‘Prapancha Ratna’: Kodali Nani

Minister for civil supplies Kodali Nani slammed Opposition leader and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu for praising the party founder-president N.T. Rama Rao but not trying to secure the highest civilian award in the country, Bharat Ratna, for him even while having an alliance with the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for four years.

The TDP worked in coordination with the Vajpayee government too and during the tenures of I.K. Gujral and Deve Gowda. All these years, Naidu did not put in any sincere efforts towards securing Bharat Ratna to NTR but keeps demanding the same during the birth or death anniversary of NTR at NTR Ghat or during Mahanadu, Nani pointed out. Nani said that Naidu lacked commitment to bringing fame to their party founder NTR even when he was a great leader.

“While NTR was a matinee idol and acts on the screen, Naidu acts in real life ad is an opportunist. If possible, he catches hold of hair and if needed, he even licks boots. He never hesitates to even backstab a person,” Nani said.

The minister termed Naidu a ‘rogue’ and demanded that he should be given ‘Prapancha Ratna’ for his cheap behaviour.

Naidu an opportunist

Nani reminded that Naidu alleged attacks by the Congress cadre on NTR’s properties when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. “Naidu said that even at that crisis time, NTR stood like a ‘bebbuli puli’,” he reminded and wondered how could Naidu think that NTR would act the other way.

Nani said that there was no comparison between Naidu and NTR. “If NTR is a tiger, Naidu is a cat,” he said.

The minister faulted Chandrababu Naidu for trying to forge an alliance with the same Congress which attacked NTR’s properties. “Without any shame, Naidu shared the dais with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during Telangana polls and even went to AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s house without any invitation,” he pointed out. He said Naidu was an opportunist who behaves in a contradicting manner, if the situation is not in his favour.

This opportunist nature of Naidu led to the downfall of TDP in Telangana and the party secured only 1.29% votes during last elections.

Naidu claims that nobody can ruin his party as it was founded during an auspicious muhurat. “It is true that nobody can do any harm to the party. Only two persons, Chandrababu Naidu and Pappu Naidu (Lokesh), are capable of ruining the TDP, which was founded with lofty ideals by the great NTR.”

“Leaders of any political party in the state will respect NTR for his welfare schemes and commitment to the welfare of the people and there is no second opinion about it. Even the YCP leaders will respect him. Naidu does not have the moral right to take NTR’s name as he backstabbed and cheated the great leader,” he said.

Further, he said that Jagan Mohan Reddy has the blessings of NTR, YSR and the Lord to decimate Naidu’s party.

Akhila Priya arrest

Nani also found fault with the TDP leaders for not speaking a word about their party leader and former minister Akhila Priya who was arrested in connection with a kidnap case in neighbouring Telangana. “Naidu is keeping silent and not making any comments against the TDP or some other person in connection with the kidnap case because he will not be spared in Telangana, unlike in AP where he is being spared by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.”

Had the arrest been in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu would have raised a hue and cry, he said.

Temple attacks

He also accused Naidu of trying to gain political mileage by levelling allegations that Jagan was keeping mum despite rampant attacks on temples in the state. “Naidu is making propaganda that he needs to be elected if shrines need to be protected. Meanwhile, his party leaders are even making threatening remarks against the DGP when he said that their probe revealed involvement of TDP and BJP men in temple attacks,” Nani added.