We took right decision at right time, says Naidu

Amaravati: Expressing serious concern over denial of Special Category Status to AP, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the BJP-led Central government had started attacking him when he was asking for right share of the state government.  

The Chief Minister also said he took right decision on right time by coming out from the NDA as it had become clear that the Centre had no intention at all of helping Andhra Pradesh. Participating in 111th birth anniversary celebrations of former deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram here on Thursday, Naidu said the Central government had been acting unilaterally and failed to fulfil the assurances made during the bifurcation.

Making it clear that attacking him amounts to an attack on the state, he warned that the people would not keep quiet. He said that the Centre was trying for a tie-up with another party in the state and to weaken the TDP government. 

He said that the state would continue its struggle to achieve SCS. The Chief Minister announced sanction of Rs 50 crore and allotment of 10 acre land in Amaravati capital for setting up of Samata Sadhikarata Spoorthi Vanam to train SCs and  STs. He said the TDP government had been giving top priority for the welfare of SCs and STs.

The Chief Minister, referring to recent judgement of Supreme Court on SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, opined that relaxation of guidelines of the Act was not correct. He recalled that N T Rama Rao had introduced several welfare programmes for the welfare of SC/STs, including Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme, residential schools for SC/ST children. He said that the state government would spend Rs 11,220 crore towards SC/ST welfare this year.

Ministers Nakka Ananda Babu, K S Jawahar, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, SC Commission chairman Karem Shivaji, former minister Dokka Manikya Varaprasad, AP Housing Corporation chairman Varla Ramaiah, principal secretary S S Rawat and others were present.