Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu received an unexpected shock from his own party MP – N Sivaprasad from Chittoor, on Friday, when he launched a scathing attack on the party leadership for cheating Dalits.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on Friday, Sivaprasad lashed out at Naidu government for ignoring Dalits.
“The chief minister has announced in the past that the government would celebrate Ambedkar birthday all through the year, but he had forgotten the same. The government forcibly acquired the lands of Dalits in the name of land pooling for the capital construction, but has not given them any compensation,” he alleged.
Known for his comic characters in films and outside, the Chittoor MP sprang a surprise by attacking the TDP president.
“Going by the population of Dalits, they should get at least five berths in the Naidu cabinet. But he has given only two cabinet posts. Even at the Centre, Naidu has not recommended any Dalit for the Union cabinet. We won’t keep quiet, if Naidu government continues to insult Dalits,” he warned.
Normally, Sivaprasad is considered to be the trusted lieutenant and loyalist of Chandrababu Naidu. So, what made him attack Naidu so strongly is still a surprise. It remains to be seen whether he has any other plans up his sleeve.
