Jagan to meet Shah, Modi

Amaravati: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will be leaving for New Delhi on Tuesday evening to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This visit comes close on the heels of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's visit, which has led to political speculation.

He is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Several issues are pending with the Centre as far as AP is concerned and the Chief Minister is expected to reiterate his demands for release of pending funds of Polavaram and also urge the Home Minister to accept the revised increased estimates of the Polavaram project.

A proposal to this effect was submitted to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat by State Irrigation Minister Anil Kumar Yadav during his recent visit. But the Centre rejected the proposal. Jagan is likely to take up this issue with Amit Shah.

The CM will also seek adequate flood relief for the families affected by Cyclone Nivar and approval for the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project proposed to turn Rayalaseema's drought region into greener pastures.

It may be recalled that the Telangana Government has moved the Supreme Court seeking justice for Telangana from the designs of the Andhra government to exploit Krishna waters from Pothireddypadu. In turn, the AP Government has complained to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti against the new projects undertaken by its counterpart in Telangana over Krishna and Godavari rivers.

The Centre has asked both the governments to come up with its detailed project reports before the Apex Council meeting could decide on an agreeable formula.

Jagan Mohan Reddy is expected to reiterate his government's support to the Centre in the ongoing farmers' struggle issue which is expected to snowball into a bigger controversy. The Centre is also keen to rope in as many State Governments as possible in its favour in this regard while assuring the farmers the required safeguards as demanded but retaining the farm laws.

Another issue dearer to the heart of Jagan Mohan Reddy is the three capitals issue of which Kurnool is one as the judicial capital of Andhra Pradesh. Reddy needs the Centre's approval for the same.