The `fighting spirit’ of the TRS seems to be paying well at New Delhi. Days after it had lodged protest for abrupt cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appointment for its Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, to lead an all-party delegation on SC categorisation issue, it is succeeding in getting few `favours’ from the Centre.
Earlier, the party had strongly protested for not sanctioning All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for the state in the Union Budget. Alleging that the Centre not honouring the AP Reorganisation Act, in which it was categorically assured to set up AIIMSs in both the Telugu states, TRS MPs accused that the same was taken away to the Prime Minister’s own state Gujarat.
Upset over this, the TRS MPs boycotted Parliament session for four days and brought pressure on the Centre. It seems the Prime Minister was disturbed with continuing tirade by TRS MPs in Parliament for the last couple of days.
Bowing down to their pressure, during the general discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in response to the demand raised by TRS floor leader, said: “my friend Jithender Reddy from Telangana has asked for an AIIMS and I am giving it.” The finance minister made the statement just before the adjournment of the Lok Sabha yesterday.
However, the state government is yet to identify the land and location for AIIMS. Though for the last two years it has been seeking AIIMS for the state, it didn’t confirmed any site. Whereas, in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh already foundation stone was laid and construction of buildings is under process.
Welcoming finance minister’s gesture, TRS MPs Vinod Kumar and Jitender Reddy said: “We will continue our fight with the Centre to achieve projects for the state.”
