After Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed him as "father of Lokesh" at a rally in Guntur Sunday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched a fierce counter-offensive against the Prime Minister and even dragged his wife's name into the row.
"You have estranged your wife. Do you have any respect in the family system," Naidu asked Modi. The TDP president said he loved his family and respected it. He said the Prime Minister did not have a family or a son.
"Since you have referred to my son, I am mentioning about your wife. People, do you know Narendra Modi has a wife? Her name is Jashodaben," Naidu told a public meeting at Vijayawada.
The Chief Minister also continued his outburst against the Prime Minister, accusing him of ruining the country and all the systems.
Naidu, who had welcomed demonetisation when it was announced on November 8, 2016, now called it a "mad Tughlaq act".
"They scrapped Rs 1000 currency notes but brought in Rs 2000 notes. How will corruption end?" he asked.
The TDP had quit the NDA in March last year protesting against the "injustice" done to the state post-bifurcation.
Naidu alleged the opposition YSR Congress had mobilised crowds for the Prime Minister's public meeting at Guntur as the BJP had totally "lost" public support in the state.
"Modi's AP tour is an utter flop. BJP should realise that people registered their protest by not attending Modi's meeting.
"It has been established again that Telugu people would teach a lesson to those who betrayed them," Naidu later told his party leaders.
The Chief Minister condemned BJP leaders' complaint that the state government obstructed people from attending Modi's Guntur public meeting.
"The Prime Minister claims to be a chaiwala but look at his suits and boots....," the Chief Minister said. "The 'go back' slogan we gave is asking you to go back to your village in Gujarat as you are not eligible to be the Prime Minister," Naidu added.
PTI
