Nara Chandrababu Naidu becoming Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh after division of the State was a boon for the people of the residual State, BJP floor leader in AP Assembly Vishnukumar Reddy observed today.
Vishnukumar Raju told the House that it was Chandrababu Naidu, who transformed Vizag into a beautiful city after the dreaded Hudhud cyclone. He said he has great respect for Chandrababu Naidu, who has a long experience in various fields, including politics. Andhra Pradesh needs justice, which has incurred colossal loss on account of bifurcation of then united Andhra Pradesh State, he added.
Stating that they will not keep quiet if the AP rendered injustice Vishnukumar Raju said the people of the State would bring to the notice of the Centre about the injustices meted out to the State. However, Vishnukumar Raju said the Centre was setting up projects and establishing institutions rather more than mentioned in the AP Reorganization Act. The UPA government did not mention special status in the Act and it was mentioned only after Rajya Sabha member Venkaiah Naidu (now Vice-President) raised the issue and got it incorporated in the Act, he said.
The BJP minister said the Centre has ruled out special status to AP as per the norms of 14th Finance Commission Recommendation and was ready to extend financial assistance to the State under special package. Stating there was a need of coordination between the TDP and BJP for development of the residual State, he asserted that the BJP would not do injustice to the people of Andhra Pradesh. He also revealed that there were some political reasons for the delay in setting up of Vizag railway zone. “But we will surely get the railway zone at any cost from the Centre. Vizag, Amaravati metro zone projects, Kadapah steel plant would also be implemented, the BJP leader asserted. (NSS)