TDP: By reneging on special status, Modi-Shah cheated people of AP

Initiating the debate on the no-confidence motion moved by his party, Telugu Desam Party MP Jayadev Galla called for justice to Andhra Pradesh and urged the Centre to fulfil the commitments made at the time of the State’s bifurcation in 2014.

Thanking the Opposition parties for the cooperation extended to the TDP’s motion, Galla said the story of Andhra Pradesh during the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah regime was that of empty promises and unfulfilled commitments.

“It is not a war between the BJP and the TDP. It is a war between the majority and morality. It is a war between the Modi regime and the 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh. It is a war against discrimination shown by the Modi regime towards Andhra Pradesh. It is a war to honour an Act of Parliament and an assurance made by a prime minister in Parliament. It is a war between the authoritarian Machiavellian attitude of the Modi regime and the rights of the States that make up the federal republic of India. It is a dharma poratam or dharma yudh (war of righteousness),” he said, adding that the matter also pertained to federalism and Centre-State relations.

The Guntur MP said the new State had several pressing needs: building a new capital, an industrial and an educational base. “So, we need relief from this uncertainty. Instead of providing us relief, the Modi regime is creating more uncertainties and more challenges for us.”

He alleged that after the “asymmetrical bifurcation”, Telangana, which had a smaller population, had been given more resources and Andhra Pradesh, with more people, was given less. “Instead of saving Andhra Pradesh, Modi, through the Finance Minister, through his press conference on March 7, 2018, announced that no SCS would be given to Andhra Pradesh. The Finance Minister said that if the demand for SCS of Andhra Pradesh is conceded, other States such as Bihar and Odisha would also demand it. It is a baseless, frivolous and trivial argument,” he said.

Galla said the Centre had deceived the State into accepting a special package by using the 14th Finance Commission as an excuse. “You did not even bother to give it legislative backing. To add insult to injury, we have not received a single paisa promised in the package. Since nothing has been done so far on the special package, we are demanding the implementation of the Cabinet decision on SCS.”

“You have not shown any magnanimity or showered your blessings on us in the form of additional allocations. It is the mandate given to you by the Act and the Commission. Any government at the Centre has to do it and you have not given us a single penny as a part of any of the assurances given by the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on the floor of Rajya Sabha. This is what the people of AP are demanding,” he added.

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