Will approach courts if necessary: Yanamala Ramakrishnudu

Vijayawada: Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that the State government would approach the judiciary for the implementation of AP Reorganisation Act, if necessary. 

Replying to a question during the Question Hour in the State Assembly on funds allocation for backward districts on Tuesday, he said that the fight between the Centre and the State was continuing in Parliament and outside politically, too, for justice.

The total power was centralised in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Finance Minister said and added that the State knows how to get funds from the Centre. 

The State was asking the funds allocation as per its right, he said. He stated that all the demands of the State were specifically included in the AP Reorganisation Act and it was passed by Parliament.

The State government sent proposal for Rs 24,500 crore for implementation of various schemes in the backward districts. The Centre released only Rs 1,050 crore so far, he said and added that Rs 350 crore was reversed after sanctioning funds to the State.      

Kurnool MLA SV Mohan Reddy said that Rs 24,500 crore was supposed to be released for development of backward districts but only Rs 700 crore was released during the last three and half years. He asked the Centre and leaders of BJP how they announced Rayalaseema Declaration while causing injustice to the backward areas. 

MLA Gottipati Ravi Kumar pointed out that the Centre excluded Prakasam district from the list of backward districts. He wondered as to how the Centre released Rs 5,500 crore for Odisha, Rs 7,200 crore to MP and UP.  Government whip K Ravi Kumar took strong exception to the attitude of the Centre. 

He said that the Centre was behaving against the spirit of federal system. The Centre has te responsibility to release funds for backward districts in the State as per the AP Reorganisation Act, he said. BJP floor leader P Vishnukumar Raju said that he brought the issue to the notice of the BJP national leadership and they were not aware of the reversal of funds.