TDP MPs seek President intervention on promises to State

New Delhi: Stepping up their heat on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for going back on the promises made to AP in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the unrelenting TDP MPs here on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind to bring to his notice the anti-AP stand adopted by the Centre.

However, they were more pointed in bringing the Kadapa steel factory issue to the notice of the President in seeking his intervention. The MPs, led by Y S Chowdary, explained to the President that their colleague C M Ramesh had gone on a fast unto death for 12 days heroically recently which he gave up reluctantly and under force from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to force the Centre to set up the steel factory in the district.

They further added that the MPs were ready to give up their life for the pending demands and would not mind continuing such protests in future. They told the President that there was no dearth of ore in the district and if needed neighbouring district's reserves too could be used.

The state government was ready to earmark land, water and power for the plant and hence it should be set-up. They also told the President that Modi himself made the promise of setting up the unit and the same was included in the BJP manifesto too. Later, they told the media that the President was quite considerate to give a patient hearing and promised positive intervention.

The delegation later also met Union minister for steel Birender Singh and submitted a memorandum to him too seeking the steel plant for Kadapa district. They listed the positives that encouraged the setting up of a plant at the place and urged the Union minister to honour the word given at the time of bifurcation.