Centre flayed for denying Special Category Status to state

Vijayawada: Telugu Desam MPs addressing the party workers at Mahanadu on Sunday lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government alleging that it had betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh on the Special Category Status (SCS).

Indirectly referring to the BJP, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said some forces were trying to destabilise the State and create rift among the people of the State on the grounds of caste and region. He further alleged that the forces were trying to take revenge against the Telugu Desam Party by instigating hatred among people and made it clear that he would not allow such activities in the State.

The Chief Minister made an emotional speech after a resolution put forth by Guntur MP Galla Jayadev on ‘Bifurcation Act - and the negligence of the Union government in implementation of Act’ was passed on the first day of the three-day Mahanadu at VR Siddhartha Engineering College grounds here. Galla Jayadev, introducing the resolution, lashed out at the Central government stating that the BJP had betrayed the people of State on the Special Category Status (SCS).

Machilipatnam MP Konakalla Narayana supported the resolution. After the detailed speech of the two MPs, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke on the resolution and extended support to it. Indirectly referring to the Opposition party YSRCP, Naidu called upon people to brand the supporters of the BJP-led NDA government as betrayers of the State.

Recalling that all Tamil people were united during the agitation for Jallikattu, the Chief Minister underlined the need for such unity among people in the state. He vowed to continue the fight for the Special Category Status (SCS).

Amidst applause from the party workers, he said the party which will be supported by the TDP would come into power in the next Lok Sabha elections. He further said the TDP would unite all the regional parties for the next general elections.

He made it clear that he had no intention to become the Prime Minister of the country. He said he had chance to become Prime Minister on two occasions but he had rejected it. “I had the opportunity two times to become the Prime Minister but I rejected it.

My wish is the development of Andhra Pradesh and I am committed for it," he added. “I played the key role in choosing the Prime Ministers twice and I suggested the name of Abdul Kalam for the post of President of India’, he recalled.

Naidu lashed out at the Central government’s decision on the Triple Talaq and questioned as to why husbands should be sent to jail. He questioned as to why there should be a separate law for the Muslims. Referring to the SCS, he reiterated that the Special Category Status was the right of the people of the state. He said the Union government had ignored important promises like creation of separate railway zone for the State, setting up Kadapa Steel Plant and many other promises.

He asked the party workers as to why the people of State should pay the taxes? He alleged that the Central government was enjoying with the taxes paid by the people of the state. He flayed BJP president Amit Shah for lying on the utility certificates submitted by the State government to the Union government on the expenditure incurred by the State on development works. Earlier, two MPs Galla Jayadev and Konakalla Narayana lambasted the BJP government for not fulfilling the assurances made in AP Reorganisation Act-2014.