The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI(M)) has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent speech in Kurnool, stating that it offered nothing new and failed to deliver any tangible benefits to Andhra Pradesh. The party accused both the central and state governments of engaging in ‘mutual praise and empty rhetoric,’ rather than addressing the real issues facing the state.
During a press conference held in Vijayawada on Friday, CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao dismissed PM Modi’s address as merely a political spectacle designed to appease the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and legitimize their alliance. He emphasized that simply speaking in Telugu does not equate to genuine development for Andhra Pradesh.
Srinivasa Rao further accused both governments of consistently overlooking regional aspirations. He reminded them of the BJP’s 2018 declaration in Kurnool, which promised a substantial ₹20,000 crore for regional development, the establishment of a second state capital, and a High Court Bench in Rayalaseema, along with at least one Assembly session annually in the region. ‘Despite the BJP holding power at both the Centre and the State, not a single one of these promises has been honored,’ he asserted, labeling the entire declaration a ‘political drama.’
The CPI(M) leader highlighted that neither PM Modi nor Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu made any mention of the long-promised Kadapa Steel plant or the special Rayalaseema package, both key components of the BJP’s 2018 ‘Rayalaseema Declaration.’ He reiterated that all pledges, including the ₹20,000 crore package, a second state capital, and a High Court Bench, remain unfulfilled.
Srinivasa Rao also challenged the government’s claims regarding GST reduction, pointing out that the per capita benefit amounted to a mere four paise daily, or approximately ₹1,600 annually. Meanwhile, essential goods, power tariffs, and fuel prices continue their upward trend. He stressed that both the Centre and the State have remained conspicuously silent on the financial losses Andhra Pradesh has incurred under the GST regime.
He went on to accuse the government of unfairly favoring large corporations, citing ₹22,000 crore in subsidies reportedly given to Google and the allocation of valuable land to TCS, despite the latter recently laying off 20,000 employees. He also noted that the much-publicized Google Data Centre, originally launched three years ago, was now being ‘repackaged as a new project’ solely for the purpose of claiming credit.
Concluding his critique, the CPI(M) leader charged both the state and central governments with compromising national interests for global corporations. He alleged that the Modi government has fostered the rise of ‘Adanis’ rather than genuine innovators like Google or Microsoft, and that the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) slogan has become a mere facade for privatizing public assets. He urged the public to hold both the BJP and the TDP accountable for their neglect of Rayalaseema’s development needs.
Additionally, the CPI(M) leader strongly condemned the arrests of protesters during the Prime Minister’s visit, calling the police actions ‘undemocratic and high-handed.’ He demanded a compensation of ₹50 lakh for the family of Arjun, who tragically died during the public meeting in Kurnool. Srinivasa Rao also criticized the arrest of Suggali Preeti’s mother, who has been tirelessly seeking justice for her daughter, and questioned the silence of Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on this critical issue.