Bharatiya Janata Party, which has not uttered a word about the Centre betraying Andhra Pradesh by restricting the cost of Polavaram project at Rs 20,398 crore, is now claiming credit for the clearing of pending bills.
BJP state general secretary Vishnuvardhan Reddy on Tuesday accused the Jagan Mohan Reddy government of launching a malicious campaign against the Centre stating that the latter had not released any funds for Polavaram project.
“The BJP government at the Centre is extending all possible help to the State in completing the Polavaram project. Despite financial constraints on account of Covid-19, the Centre has released Rs 2,300 crore to the state. Why is the Jagan government not thanking the Centre for the same?” he asked.
Reddy said the Narendra Modi government would ensure that the Polavaram project was completed by all means. “Neither the Jagan government nor Telugu Desam Party has any moral right to criticize the Centre,” the BJP leader said.
What Vishnu has forgotten that the Centre has not done any favour to the state by releasing Rs 2,300 crore. The amount is actually due to be paid to the state in lieu of the bill submitted by the government for the work completed on Polavaram project till now.
The Centre has been withholding the same on the ground stating that it will release the amount only if the state accepts the revised project cost at 2013-14 rates. It is a sort of arm twisting. The Centre was forced to release the amount only fearing legal complications.
