My fight is to save democracy: Chandrababu Naidu

Tirupati: Asserting that his fight is only to save democracy and Constitutional institutions and not against anyone or for his self-interest, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu declared that he will not stop fight till justice is done on EVMs issue. Speaking to mediapersons after declaring open the Blood Bank set up by NTR Trust here on Saturday evening, Chandrababu Naidu without mincing words said that he will not remain silent when the institutions are subjected to a systematic attack to make them impotent.

"When I was a student in SV University I fought for social justice and later struggled during August crisis and saw democracy restored in the State,'' he said declaring that he would work with renewed vigor to join the Opposition parties against the lapses and partiality of the Election Commission and to agree for counting of 50 per cent of VVPAT slips which he said is a simple demand.

Naidu made it clear that he has no personal problem either with the Chief Electoral Officer Dwidevi or Chief Secretary Subramanayam but only fighting for the democratic rights and to ensure transparency in the Election System while reiterating his charge against the Election Commission alleging that unlike in other States like Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, the Commission in the State is acting in a vindictive manner by imposing many restrictions on him at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When at the Centre-level, the IB chief and Cabinet Committee reporting to the Prime Minister is not against the Election Code how could the State intelligence chief reporting and CM holding official review on urgent issues is not permissible, Naidu questioned, strongly resenting the

Election Commission restricting him from holding official reviews.

Strongly condemning the suspension of IAS officer on election duty for checking PM Modi's helicopter in Odisha, he sought the Election Commission why it failed to take action on similar checking up of the helicopters of Opposition leaders including Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy by officials and charged that the Election Commission is targeting opposition party leaders.

Sharply reacting to the Election Commission restrictions against holding official reviews, Naidu with a tone of anger said how could a government remain immune when farmers are facing difficulty in marketing their produce or people in cities like Tirupati facing acute water problem?

Seeking the officials not to take sides and discharge their duties without bowing to any pressure for the sake of the people, he said he is only fighting for democracy and has animosity with none and has every respect for the officials including IAS, IPS, Group-I and even the employees of all cadres.

On the representation of retired IAS officers to the Governor on the poll issue, he said it only reeks of caste feeling and asked them why they did not react when a group of 65 officials represented to the Election Commission, New Delhi on the lapses on the polling day including EVMs malfunctioning disrupting voting in scores of booths.

Replying a question on BJP coming to power, he said there is no question of the saffron party retaining power and Modi is sure to go home after the election. Earlier, Nara Bhuvaneswari, NTR Trust Managing Trustee said that the blood bank set up by the Trust in Tirupati is the fourth one marking the birthday of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to serve the needy poor.