The special package announced by the Centre for Andhra Pradesh is more beneficial to the State than the promised special category status, and criticism of the package is politically motivated, according to Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

Addressing BJP workers at the office here of local MP K Haribabu on Wednesday, he said: “Many of these worthies (those who criticise the package) did nothing when the State was being bifurcated in a most irrational manner by the Congress government. It was because of our pressure and efforts that many of the provisions were included in the Bifurcation Act.”

At a meeting last week, Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan had criticised the package, saying: “All that the Centre has given is two rotten laddus, for which we have to thank our honourable Venkaiah Naidu ji .”

Smaller States

Venkaiah said today that in tune with its policy of favouring smaller States, the BJP had supported the bifurcation of AP, but “always keeping in mind the interests of the people of the other two regions.” “We wanted all provisions to be included in the Act to safeguard the interests of AP. The Congress, which failed to do that, is now heaping criticism on us,” he remarked.

The NDA government is committed to completing the Polavaram project and the entire cost will be borne by it, he added. The other provisions in the package would also be implemented in letter and spirit and there need not be any apprehensions, he said.

In response to a question on a railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters, he said the issue is under consideration.

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