Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sought the appointment of a joint parliamentary committee to assess the promises made to the residual State of Andhra Pradesh at the time of division and its actual implementation.
Making a presentation before reporters here on Wednesday on the implementation status of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised Special Category Status to the State.
He said Modi had also assured a new capital for the State which would be better than Delhi, and had advised Naidu to visit Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. He demanded the Centre to fund the construction of Amaravati, the proposed capital city, based on the project report.
Naidu said farmers had handed over 33,000 acres of land to construct Amaravati.
“Some people are asking: ‘Do you have any regrets of leaving Hyderabad after developing it? I tell them I developed Hyderabad for Telugu people. Now I will develop another city,” he said, and added that the Centre gave just ₹2,500 crore for the project. He reiterated that the implementation of the promises made in the Act is the demand of the State.
He said the people of Andhra Pradesh believed that the Naidu-Modi combo will solve the problems of the State. They feel betrayed by the present stand of the Centre. “I ask the present government why we can’t have a review. Appoint a joint parliamentary committee to assess the commitments made, and the actual delivery.”
Naidu has been meeting leaders from various political parties seeking their help for the cause and for the no-confidence motion moved against the Centre by his party’s MPs. On Wednesday, he met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
‘Waited long’
Justifying his decision to leave the NDA, he said he waited for four years and made 29 visits to the Centre on the issue. “Had they given us special status within the first year, I would have saved ₹3,000-5,000 crore. I want to place all this on record. I waited for four years. When they didn’t mention any word in their Budget about Andhra Pradesh, they did not even show concern. I told the Prime Minister that would be still in the NDA if you sort it out. The call was made after the TDP ministers resigned from the government.
“They are blaming me, saying that they are prepared to give money, but we are not ready to take. They have given special status to 11 States in spite of the 14th Finance Commission . Then why not to Andhra Pradesh?” he asked.
He maintained that the bifurcation process was unscientific, irrational and caused serious blow to the fiscal and economic strength and the development opportunities of the State.There were contradictions in the Bill, Naidu claimed.
“We had said that the bifurcation should be smooth, scientific and fair to both States. But the way they have bifurcated the States — it was painful for people. We had an alliance with the BJP because our State needed hand-holding from the Centre.”