Brain Stormer: Why not Special Category State (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh?

The recent demonstrations of MP’s belonging to cross sections of political parties including the Telegu Desam Party (TDP), the Congress and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has created an atmosphere of confusion and chaos both within and outside the Parliament. Meanwhile a Private Member’s Bill moved by the Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha (RS) K V P Ramachandra Rao, having the tacit support of even the TDP has added fuel to the fire over the matter. But as the bill demanding Special Category State (SCS) status, categorized as Money Bill, was initiated in the RS which is not allowed as per the constitutional provisions, so it had to be finally referred to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Also, the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked the Union Government to ‘protect the honour of the august House’ by giving the SCS to Andhra Pradesh (AP) which he had made in the RS on February 20, 2014. Ironically, the Chief Minister of AP, N. Chandrababu Naidu had already elaborated the assurances the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given to him. Naidu has made it public that the PM has conveyed him about the fulfillment of the promises by the Centre.

Then why the showcasing of protests by the political parties? Is it an attempt to malign the Modi Government saying that a BJP-TDP coalition at the centre is not honouring the promises made by the UPA-II? May be it is an effort by a section of political parties like the Congress to put a blame on the Modi Government. Today the Congress and the YSRCP which are fast fading both at the centre and in the State are trying to grab the spotlight by harping on the issue of the SCS for AP. But people also must bring forth the question to the Congress that why the UPA-II had failed to deliver the SCS to AP? Simply playing a blame game will not help the people of AP.

To be very precise and pragmatic, the state of AP must be offered maximum assistance by the Centre. Because of the unscientific and hurried bifurcation by the UPA-II, today around 58.32 percent population of the undivided AP has become a huge burden on the State. Hence, for ensuring faster and better development of AP and its people, the timely assistance from the Union Government is a must irrespective of the fulfilment of the demand for the SCS. Mere political rhetoric and media hype about the SCS, especially by the Congress and the YSRCP will make no sense. And the TDP MPs must restrain themselves as their CM has already been assured by the PM. Let us wait and watch how the PM delivers to the people of AP.