Amaravati: CM pleads with PM to grant special status

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to the state in the light of the stand taken by the 15th Finance Commission.

In a letter to Modi, a copy of which was released to the media on Wednesday, Jagan sought his intervention in view of the observation by the panel that the issue comes under the domain of the Centre.

The Chief Minister wrote that the state government had requested the 15th Finance Commission to consider the plea for grant of the status, favourably. It took the view point that the issue is beyond the purview of Finance Commission.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the commission in its report made it clear that the issue is entirely in the domain of the Central government, which can take an appropriate decision after due consideration.

Earlier, the Centre's argument was that with the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, SCS ceased to exist.

The ministry of finance, while ruling out SCS in 2016, had cited the report of 14th Finance Commission.

The Chief Minister, however, argued that there is 'very definite' inconsistency between the stand taken by the ministry of finance and the stand taken by 15th Finance Commission.

He said the state was subjected to gross injustice owning to the non-grant of the SCS. He said this was the most vital of the statements made in Parliament at the time of the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014, to mitigate the economic hardships that the state would suffer as a consequence of the bifurcation.

Jagan said during several occasions in the past, he brought to Modi's attention the widespread distress prevailing in the state.

"The people of Andhra Pradesh remain hapless victims of this unfortunate scenario," he wrote.

He hailed the Union Budget saying in these difficult times when the economy was sluggish and the sentiment was weak, the budget had been most reassuring and provided necessary enthusiasm.

"However, there is a sense of dissatisfaction among the people of Andhra Pradesh as there is no specific mention regarding the steps intended to be taken to support the state," he added. (IANS)