Turning the tables on to the ruling BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today refuted the remarks made by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament on the special status tag to the State.
At a meeting of party MPs at Vijayawada on Sunday, Chandrababu found fault with the BJP Government at the Centre for being non-committal and adopting dual standards on their promises in this regard. He accused the Centre of showing partisan attitude towards AP with regard to special status, promises made in Reorganization Act and extending financial succor. He refuted Jaitley comments that the Centre gave more funds than the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations.
The Chief Minister expressed displeasure that during bifurcation though the Congress sought special status for five years, the BJP vouched it for 10 years and now swiftly trying to ignore it. The special status issue has become a life and death problem for the State, he said probably for the first time with no other go as the Opposition parties united for the purpose with Congress MP KVP Ramachandra Rao moving a private member bill on the issue.
The AP is unhappy with the bifurcation which caused immense loss and insult to the State, Chandrababu stated. Is not the duty of the Centre to see that it extends support to the AP until it develops on par with other States in the country, he thundered. He expressed anguish at the BJP Government for denying the special status by showing 14th Finance Commission recommendations which has no say in this regard. Chandrababu said that the commission cannot take a decision on the issue and the Centre is to resolve it he said.
Chandrababu Naidu also found fault that the Centre failed to resolve many issues pertaining to the two Telugu States that sought delimitation of Assembly seats and others of AP Bifurcation Act. A future course of plan will be chalked out after exerting pressure on the Centre by meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his response to the pleas, he added. Naidu also slammed YSRCP president and Leader of the Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy for organizing protests and misguiding the people on various issues. “Instead of making mindless comments of filing cases on me, Jagan should fight with the Centre on the State issues”, he added. (NSS)