HIGHLIGHTS
• The building called 'Praja Vedika' is located near Mr Naidu's residence
• It was used by Chandrababu Naidu to meet the public
• Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy ordered the demolition
AMARAVATI: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu today hit out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, as a Rs. 8-crore conference hall, 'Praja Vedike', that he had built was razed, saying it was foolish to destroy government property.
Mr Reddy had ordered the demolition of the building last week, calling it "illegal", just days after a request from his predecessor, Mr Naidu, to allow him to use it as an office.
''Praja Vedika'' was built next to the residence of Mr Naidu when he was chief minister. The demolition work began last evening. Chandrababu Naidu, who was on holiday in Europe, returned yesterday.
"Many statues don't have permission (and) stand on unauthorised land," Mr Naidu said, asking if Jagan Reddy was planning to pull down statues of his father and former chief minster YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
The demolition took place after the Andhra High Court turned down a late night plea and adjourned the hearing by two weeks. The petition had alleged the demolition was a waste of public money.
The TDP has called the demolition "vendetta politics".
Mr Naidu's TDP was voted out in Assembly polls in April, with Mr Reddy's YSR Congress claiming a massive mandate. The party also won 22 of 25 seats to decimate the TDP in parliamentary elections.
Mr Reddy, in his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 30, had discussed issues regarding special category status for Andhra Pradesh, a demand over which Mr Naidu broke away from the National Democratic Alliance.
However, on Monday Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the centre had no proposal under consideration to grant special category status to any state.