Amaravati, Nov 26 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday sought the resignation of senior cabinet minister Botsa Satyanarayana for comparing Amaravati with a "burial ground", saying the comment is dreadful and unpardonable.
Slamming Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, the leader of opposition said he insulted 5 crore people of the state and all the prominent personalities who had participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid foundation stone for Amaravati on October 22, 2015. Naidu was then the Chief Minister.
Amaravati is the brainchild of Naidu, who is the president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
"If you can't respect your Capital City, at least respect the sentiments of farmers who pooled their lands," tweeted Naidu.
"Respect the name which was derived from the glorious civilization of yore, respect the identity and hopes of 5 Crore Telugu people whom you represent," he said.
Stating that he is pained at whatever is happening, Naidu alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is on course to erase both the past and future leaving nothing for the coming generations.
Naidu said every citizen of Andhra wishes to see Amaravati as the most magnificent city in the world.
He claimed that during TDP rules Amaravati was abuzz with activity as construction works worth Rs 52,000 crore were taken up. "There was hectic activity with thousands of workers and large number of visitors. Even an enemy would not call it a graveyard", he said.
"Do you see the universities standing there as graveyard? Are the high court, assembly and secretariat looking graveyard to you?" asked Naidu.
The TDP chief alleged that the minister had undone the sacrifices of the farmers and made fun of the workers, who shed their sweat in the capital city's construction.
The former Chief Minister said Satyanarayana had no right to continue as minister after hurting the people's sentiments. He said if the government was sincere in developing Amaravati, it should sack the minister.
Satyanarayana had made the remark on Monday while questioning Naidu on the development undertaken during the last five years.
He was criticizing Naidu for planning a visit to Amaravati this week to highlight how the development of state capital came to a halt after YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) came to power.
Naidu has announced he will visit Amaravati on November 28. This comes in the wake of Singapore Consortium pulling out from the development of capital city while farmers who gave their lands for the capital approached the High Court.
"About 56 to 90 percent of construction of four buildings has been completed. How can it be called constructing capital city where only 5 per cent works have been completed," Satyanarayana asked.
"The budget for development of state capital has been estimated to be Rs 1.9 lakh crore but only Rs 4,900 crore has been spent," said Satyanarayana and alleged that Chandrababu Naidu turned the capital city into a graveyard.
At a review meeting of Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) on Monday, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to speed up the works but also advised them to avoid unnecessary expenditure keeping in view the financial position of the state.
He said the government would release funds for construction works which were nearing completion.
The government also decided to develop the plots allotted to the farmers who had given their land for the capital city.
--IANS
ms/prs
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)