AP resolution questions Centre

Amaravati: The TDP, after walking out of the NDA government, pushed a resolution in the Assembly on Tuesday, listing out the instances of injustice done to the reorganised state after bifurcation, and deploring the apathy of the Centre in implementing AP Reorganisation Act 2014 and promises made by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha.

The Legislative Assembly, in its resolution, demanded Central government’s assistance for development of capital city, sanction of railway zone, steel plant, Dugarajapatnam port, petro-chemical complex, increase in assembly constituencies, setting up of educational institutions and research and development units.

It also questioned why the Centre was dragging its feet in extending benefits to the state that are being offered to the states where Special Category Status is already in force. When the 14th Finance Commission remained silent on the special status, what was the problem for the Centre to extend the benefits for the state which was in need of hand-holding badly, the resolution pointed out.

During a short discussion on Implementation of AP Reorganisation Act 2014 in the Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, became emotional stating that even responsible people in Central government and the BJP were saying that Amaravati was a dream city. “BJP leaders in Delhi and AP are also ridiculing us for our efforts to build a world class city.

I was hurt when I heard these comments. But I am not discouraged. I am committed to build a world class capital city,” he said. In his one-and-a-half-hour speech, the Chief Minister made a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He read out newspaper clippings to remind the statements of Modi and Jaitley also about Andhra Pradesh on various occasions. 

“Modi said that injustice could not have done to AP if the BJP was in power during the bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. But the BJP is in power now and yet they were not implementing AP Reorganistion Act,” he said.

Naidu said that though the members of 14th finance commission say that they did not deal with the issue of Special Category Status to AP, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was citing the commission report to deny SCS to AP. “Special Category Status is a sentiment. It is the right of AP. You should not take it easy. You should also take an example from Congress party which has lost its existence in Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation of AP,” he said.

Reminding Arun Jaitley’s statement that funds could not be given on the basis of sentiments, Naidu wanted to know whether it was not sentiment that had forced the Centre to divide the state. He said that the Central government was delaying the railway zone, steel plant and port on one pretext or the other and was asking the state to bear the viability gap funding of Rs 5,000 crore for petro chemical complex.

The Chief Minister said that there was no progress in Central educational institutions and there was delay in distribution of assets between the two states.  He also wanted the Centre to take steps to increase Assembly seats. The Chief Minister found fault with the Prime Minister for giving audience to YSRC MP V Vijaysai Reddy though he is an accused in several cases.  

The Legislative assembly condemned the attitude of some people who are in the highest position in central government towards the state, though the Chief Minister visited Delhi 29 times to protect the interests of the state. People are expressing serious concern over delay in fulfilling the assurances given during state bifurcation.

The Assembly resolved that the Central government should give a hand-holding to AP until it achieves development on par with neighbouring states. The Legislative assembly resolved asking the Centre to sanction special status and fulfil the assurance given during state bifurcation. All the members present in the House supported the resolution with voice vote, while the BJP members remained silent.