Andhra Pradesh assembly blames PM Modi for failing to grant special status

AMARAVATI: The State Assembly on Wednesday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for denying special category status and other bifurcation benefits to Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu moved the resolution condemning the indifferent attitude of the Central government towards the state and reiterating its demand for special category status and other benefits due for the State.

Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the BJP-led NDA government was not honouring the promises made to the people of Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation. "The indifferent attitude of the Central government harms the federal and constitutional spirit of the nation," Chandrababu Naidu said.

He said that the NDA government had first denied the special status to Andhra Pradesh attributing that to the 14th Finance Commission. However, the same government had continued the status and other benefits to the 11 other states and wondered how the government can deny the benefits to one state and extend them to the other states.

"I have visited Delhi 29 times to get a special status. But they were indifferent. Now, we have been holding protests in different forms. This too had failed to make the Central government help us. We strongly condemn this attitude of the government and that of the Prime Minister," Chandrababu Naidu said.

The Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution asking the Central government to sanction every benefit that was promised to the state.

The lone BJP member, P Vishnukumar Raju, who is also the party floor leader, remained neutral but said that the Central government was rolling out the benefits one after the other. He claimed that the railway zone for Visakhapatnam was in the process and would be a reality soon.