Kejriwal is Trying to Pollute People's Minds: AP CM Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu participated in an election campaign in Delhi last night, supporting candidates from his ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He attended rallies in areas with a significant Telugu-speaking population. Today, he continued his stay in Delhi and held a press conference where he emphasized that development in the national capital is possible only under BJP’s leadership.
"Delhi is our capital, and it represents our collective self-respect," said Chandrababu Naidu.
He criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, stating, "Foreign visitors first arrive in Delhi, but due to governance failures over the past ten years, the city has been deteriorating. Delhi now faces the highest levels of weather pollution and political pollution in the world. Since his policies have not yielded results, Arvind Kejriwal is trying to mislead and pollute people’s minds with baseless claims. Dirty water is mixing with drinking water in Delhi’s streets, and residents are being forced to consume contaminated water. The city is visibly unclean, which is a major drawback. The Yamuna River has been entirely polluted, and air pollution has reached unbearable levels. People are hesitant to visit Delhi. Only BJP can ensure both development and welfare, and voters should consider this carefully."
Chandrababu Naidu praised the Union Budget, stating that it would significantly benefit Andhra Pradesh. He highlighted the government's focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and green energy as innovative policies driving India's progress.
Quoting Telugu poet Gurajada Apparao, he said, "'A nation is not just its land but its people,' and I sincerely appreciate Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for referring to this sentiment in her budget speech."
He announced that ₹15,000 crore would be allocated for Amaravati this year, with additional funds expected in the coming months. The central government has sanctioned ₹12,157 crore for the Polavaram project, with ₹5,936 crore allocated in this budget. To support Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the government had announced a ₹11,440 crore package before the budget, with ₹3,295 crore allocated in the budget itself.
Other key allocations include:
₹730 crore for Visakhapatnam Port
₹285 crore for the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor
Funding for railway zone buildings in Visakhapatnam
₹5 crore for the development of Kopparthi and Orvakal industrial corridors
Chandrababu Naidu asserted that Andhra Pradesh had fallen behind by 30 years due to past misgovernance, not just the state's bifurcation. "We need leaders who distribute wealth, not those who loot it," he said.
He highlighted the state’s recent achievements, stating, "In just seven months, we have attracted ₹7 lakh crore in investments. We are moving forward with a 15% growth target. The Davos trip was successful, and several international industries are coming to Andhra Pradesh. Our focus is on job creation and economic growth while ensuring equal distribution of welfare benefits."
He also aligned Andhra Pradesh's policies with the central government’s priorities, particularly in AI, green energy, agriculture, poverty eradication, and MSMEs. Responding to criticism over Andhra Pradesh’s mention in the budget, he stated, "What matters is the financial support, not whether the state's name is explicitly mentioned. With the central government’s assistance, we will make Andhra Pradesh the number one state in the country."