Build Team India - Chandrababu Naidu Tells Modi at NITI Aayog Meeting in New Delhi

AP Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, here on Sunday gave an earful to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on the anguish of his State over denial of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing the NITI Aayog meeting today and responding to the rosy picture painted by the Prime Minister of the economy of States, Naidu minced no words in telling the nation the 'willful default' nature of the Centre in denying the State the Special Category Status and its adverse impact on the former.

Though Naidu took along with him a prepared speech copy to highlight the economic situation of AP and its plight due to denial of the SCS, he rather chose to focus on the Status issue more to hit out at Modi.

In a speech that could have sent Modi cribbing, Naidu questioned his sagacity in going back on the promise made during the bifurcation. In his unsparing speech, Naidu questioned Modi why he could not implement the BJP's election manifesto promises on this count. AP people were facing unknown hardships due to the denial of the same.

Despite the neglect, the contribution of the Agriculture Sector was a spectacular 34 per cent during 2017-18 compared to the 23 per cent of 2013-14 of the combined State, he said. The per capita income of the combined State of AP stood at Rs 89,214 whereas it stood at Rs 82,870 in the residual State.

He also explained the growth or lack of it of each, of each sector, while insisting on funds for the Capital city and Polavaram project. The revenue deficit had to be filled up without further delay he said questioning the Centre why it withheld Rs 350 crore payment pertaining to the Backward areas. The loss to the State due to demonetisation and GST were highlighted by him even as he demanded adoption of 2011 census for calculations of the 15th Finance Commission so that the States would not be deprived of their due.

He rounded off with a request that Team India should be built in a cooperative federal spirit unlike what Modi Government was practicing.

Several Chief Ministers including Nitish Kumar and Mamata Benerjee supported AP CM's demand for Special Category Status further embarrassing the Prime Minister in front of the wider audience.