Too much hype, created by Chandrababu Naidu about Amaravati capital, has certainly done harm to the state of Andhra Pradesh.
In the past 23 months, the amount spent on publicizing the Amaravati capital, the tours made by CM and others in special flights and the extravagant foundation stone laying ceremony, and boasting of 5 lakh crore worth flow of investments into the state …. all seem to have spoiled the Andhra case in New Delhi.
This is the opinion one gets if the written replies given by finance and home ministers in Parliament are studied. If the written answer given by minister of state for Finance Jayant Sinha are any indication, definitely the ballyhoo about the ‘World-Class’ capital militated against the state demand for special category status and release of liberal grants to the AP, which, Naidu says, is facing unprecedented problems following the bifurcation of the state.
Center has noticed the marriage like festivities on every occasion in state which any poor state can’t afford to spend on. So, they thought the special status demand and more funds is only meant to derive some sympathy from the people and divert the people’s attention from the criticism leveled by opposition parties.
Jayant Sinha reportedly said when the PM wants to develop all states on equal footing according special status to Andhra Pradesh would lead to an geographical imbalance as the investors flock to Andhra Pradesh alone. Jayanth Sinha also said that AP chief minister wants everything to be concentrated in and around Amaravati capital. So, Naidu’s demands for capital not only looked unimplementable but also proved unfair in the eyes of centre.
On Friday TDP members N Siva Prasad and Kesineni asked two questions in Lok Sabha which were selected as unstarred questions. The question (Lok Sabha 2107 and 2147) are related to proposed concessions to Andhra Pradesh. The finance minister simply said not possible.
