MLA dares BJP for a public debate on Special Category Status to state

Pithapuram: TDP MLA S VSN Varma has dared the BJP for a public debate in Kakinada on six assurances that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given in parliament on Special Category Status (SCS) to AP. 

Addressing media at his office here on Sunday, Varma reiterated that the TDP would not compromise on the SCS and said it was unfortunate that the BJP was still trying to hoodwink the people. 

He accused the BJP and the YSRCP of colluding to halt the Polavaram project.  In tune with the efforts of YSRCP to halt the project, the Centre suspended releasing of funds to it, he alleged.

Stating that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was spending funds from the state exchequer to the Polavaram project believing that the Prime Minister would release funds for it, he said under the R and R package, the announced Rs 33000 crore package was yet to reach the state. 

Due to suspension of NREGS funds, the state was not able to release wages for NREGS workers, he added. Compared to other states, funds released to the state for roads and house construction were less, he lamented. 

On one hand the Centre claiming there was no SCS to any state, but how the Centre was extending the same to North-Eastern states, he pointed out. 

Referring to MLC Somu Veerraju criticising the Chief Minister, Varma sought to know what was the contribution of the MLA for development of Rajamahendravaram? How much funds did the MLA brought to the city from the Centre?  The proposed tribal university to Rajamahendravaram has been withdrawn, he added. 

On SCS issue, the YSRCP was adopting double standards, he alleged. MP Vijayasai Reddy was playing second fiddle to Narendra Modi at the Centre while Jaganmohan Reddy was playing drama on resignations.