A day after Congress vehemently fought for the implementation of Special Status along with all other assurances given to Andhra Pradesh at the time of passage of AP Reorganization Act 2014, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu moved a resolution in the Assembly on the same point.
Since the TDP, being an ally of NDA can’t fight as acrimoniously as Congress, Naidu chose a safe route to raise the pending assurances.
But, the opposition leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy was skeptical of the efficacy of the resolution. He said this was for the second time that the CM was moving a resolution requesting the centre to implement all the assurances. Jagan, on the other hand, suggested Naidu that he should issue an ultimatum to the centre stating that the TDP would withdraw its ministers from union cabinet if all the assurances were not implemented in a month.
” Naidu cries foul in and paints dismal picture in public in Andhra Pradesh and in Delhi he praises PM Narendra Modi for the generous help. What is this dichotomy,” Jagan asked dubbing the effort of Naidu as non-serious.
” Even though we have no faith in the sincerity and commitment of chief minister Naidu, we are fully backing the resolution,” Jagan announced finally.
Earlier, while placing the status report on the implementation of the AP Reorganization Act before the Assembly, the CM listed out 17 issues which still needs attention of the centre. The issues that remain unattended or partially met are- special status, Polavaram project funding , special package to four Rayalaseema and three districts North Coastal Andhra, Steel plant in Kadapa district, funding for bridging the revenue gap, setting up of separate Railway zone in Vizag, special package for new capital Amaravati, establishing all institutes of higher learning mentioned in Schedule 13 of Act , increasing the seats in Assembly from 175 to 225, resolving the local status of employees, Greenfield crude oil refinery, Section 8 implementations, distribution of employees be completed immediately etc.
Stating that after the bifurcation of the state Andhra Pradesh had become most backward state in South India, he said AP need to a metro city like the metros of neighboring cities. Citing the example of the Polavaram project, for which centre had release just Rs 645 crore as against the amount Rs 2094 crore spent by the state, Naidu said the assistance from the centre was inadequate. He said the the project would be completed by 2018.
The House approved the resolution unanimously.
