NEW DELHI:
Congress president
Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that his party supported the "just demands" of
Andhra Pradesh for special category status.
He also urged political parties to "unite" and "support" the cause.
"The Congress Party supports the just demands of the people of Andhra Pradesh for special category status and speedy completion of the
Polavaram project. It's time for all parties to unite on this issue and support this call for justice. #INCStandsWithAndhra," he tweeted.
On Thursday, the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh also created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha, when Union minister YS Chowdary suggested that since provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act have not been implemented, the matter should be addressed by the finance minister.
He also blamed both the Congress and the BJP for the Act's "hasty passage".
The multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project, which is expected to benefit upland areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts, is 53 per cent complete.
The state government had spent Rs 12,915 crore on the project up to December 31, 2017.
