No place for terrorism in democracy Andhra CM Naidu

    Vajrakarur (Andhra Pradesh), May 9 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said there is no place for terrorism in a democracy and asserted that India would respond strongly.


    Addressing a public meeting at Vajrakarur village in Anantapur district, Naidu condemned the recent killing of tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, calling it an "unforgivable act" that challenged India's sovereignty and humanity.

    “There is no place for terrorism in this nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take strict action,” Naidu said.
    The TDP supremo stated that Pakistan should have corrected its course, but its repeated provocations had forced India to respond through operations like Operation Sindoor.
    Naidu paid tribute to Murali Naik, a soldier from Andhra Pradesh martyred in the operation, and assured his family that the nation would always stand with them.
    Naik, who had served in the Army for two years, died fighting for the country. “Our soldiers protect us without rest or food,” Naidu said.
    He urged people across Andhra Pradesh to remain vigilant, join the armed forces if able, and stand united with the nation in difficult times.
    “Patriotism means rising for the nation in times of crisis. It is our duty to defend democracy with courage and unity,” he added.


    Apart from addressing terrorism, the Chief Minister also emphasised the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) project, announcing that water will be released through it on July 10.

    Naidu said the HNSS project stretches 770 kms from Srisailam to Kuppam, making it the longest irrigation project in Asia and a game-changer for drought-prone Rayalaseema.
    The CM inspected works at Uravakonda in Anantapur district and said Rs 3,873 crore is being spent on canal lining, widening, and associated works across 554 kilometers.
    “This project, once neglected, is now progressing swiftly under the NDA coalition government,” said Naidu, blaming the previous YSRCP regime for halting works and delaying Rayalaseema’s transformation for over five years.
    Naidu recalled laying the foundation stone in 1996 and credited N T Rama Rao’s vision for initiating Handri-Neeva to convert Rayalaseema from barren land into cultivable prosperity.
    He said Phase 1 will irrigate over 2 lakh acres, while Phase 2 will cover more than 4 lakh acres across six drought-prone Rayalaseema districts.
    Naidu added that 512 agencies and 1,040 canal excavation machines are working round the clock, with significant progress seen in branch canal development and key package completions.
    He also mentioned that the Polavaram-Banakacharla linkage project will transform irrigation across the state, with the potential to harness 300 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the Godavari River to irrigate all agricultural land in Andhra Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)