New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Many Opposition party MPs on Thursday, during a discussion on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, cautioned NDA partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) about the BJP’s alleged opportunistic approach, claiming it follows a ‘use-and-throw’ policy.
The allegation prompted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to reply, stating, “We honour friendship. We don’t cheat.” During the debate on the Bill, which sought to formally establish Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh with retrospective effect from June 2, 2024, Md Nadimul Haque, AITC MP from West Bengal, said the Trinamool Congress always supported the TDP in its fight for the rights of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
Stating that the TDP is currently aligned with the BJP, Haque said the party should learn from recent developments involving CM Nitish Kumar in Bihar, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra.
“I will advise them to beware of the ‘use-and-throw’ policy,” Haque said, adding, “I want to see you on this side.” Dinesh Sharma, who was presiding over the proceedings of the House, urged Haque not to deviate from the topic and to restrict his remarks to the Bill.
“If you don’t speak on the subject, I will invite another speaker,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, Rijiju intervened and said, “Don’t teach us loyalty and friendship.” Recalling a past incident, Rijiju said that when Mamata Banerjee was the sole Trinamool MP in the Lok Sabha and was attacked by Communist Party MPs in the House, it was BJP members who protected her.
“We honour friendship. We don’t cheat,” Rijiju reiterated.
Referring indirectly to news reports that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar might be forced to step down and move to the Rajya Sabha, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said a Chief Minister from one of the states is being brought here.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh also advised TDP MPs that, as long as they are in power, they should get all the funds promised by the Centre for the development of the state and its new capital.
Singh alleged that the BJP has a history of forming alliances and later cheating its partners, citing examples such as the Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, NCP, and Janata Dal.
“They cheated the Morarji government of that time,” Singh said.
“So I just want to say to my friends in TDP that as long as you have the key in your hands, take all the funds allocated for Amaravati’s development and carry out the development,” Singh added.
Sanjay Yadav, RJD MP from Bihar, referred to an incident from April 25, 2000, when a discussion took place on the Bihar Reorganisation Bill during the NDA government under then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He claimed that then Chief Minister Rabri Devi had demanded Rs 1,89,900 crore as a special financial package; however, even after the Bill was passed, the state has not received the package to date.
He also alleged that even the current JDU Chief Minister is being removed and brought to Delhi.
BJP MPs K Laxman and Ryaga Krishnaiah praised the vision and efforts of the NDA government for the development of the state.
However, YSRCP MP Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy opposed the Bill, stating that it does not address the problems of 29,000 farmers who gave 34,000 acres of farmland for Amaravati under land pooling without receiving payment.
Niranjan Bishi of the BJD supported the Bill and drew attention to various issues, including encroachment and administrative interference in border areas of Andhra Pradesh with neighbouring states, including Odisha.
BRS MP K R Suresh Reddy demanded that the promises made to Telangana in the Bill be fulfilled and said the Centre should give equal importance to the development needs of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
BJP MP G Kishan Reddy, who is also the Minister of Mines, countered allegations levelled by Reddy. PTI JP TRB
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