Centre using I-T dept to threaten us, alleges AP CM
Amaravati (AP), Oct 15: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Monday accused the Centre of using Income Tax raids to threaten the state for demanding its rights and said it was not right to adopt a 'vengeful' attitude.
In his weekly teleconference with top bureaucrats and public representatives on "Neeru-Pragati" (water and progress) where he shared his views on various issues, he also turned philosophical, saying only dharma, justice and good work would remain permanent.
His charge against the Centre comes days after the Income Tax department conducted searches at the premises of ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on October 12.
We are able to handle the Nature, but we are unable to handle politics. On one hand, the state is faced with problems caused by the bifurcation and on the other hand, natural calamities surrounded us. We have been overcoming them with a determination, he said referring to the devastation caused by severe cyclone Titli last week.
In a veiled attack on the Congress and BJP, he said while one national party (Congress) meted out 'injustice' to the state then (through bifurcation to create Telangana), another national party (BJP) was rendering injustice now through non-cooperation, the Chief Minister said.
"They (the Centre) are attacking us when we are demanding our rights. They are threatening us by conducting Income Tax raids. This is not democratic spirit," Naidu, who quit the NDA over the special category status demand, charged.
One should compete in development and resolving peoples problems but it was not right to adopt a vengeful attitude, he said.
Ultimately, only dharma, justice and the good work (we do) will remain permanent, the chief minister said.
Noting that the state could make effective use of latest technology in assessing the exact landfall of the severe cyclone Titli, the Chief Minister said it helped in minimising the loss of lives.
He also lectured officials on the need to build leadership qualities and the capability to overcome crises.
People should feel that officials were here to render social service and not merely to collect salaries, the Chief Minister told the officials.
He directed them to work tirelessly till normalcy was fully restored in the cyclone-hit areas.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
