KVP moves private member Bill for SCS in Rajya Sabha

Congress MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao has criticised the Central Government for ignoring the interests of Andhra Pradesh in not granting the special category status in spite of assurances made on the floor of Parliament.

Dr. Rao moved a private member Bill on the issue in Rajya Sabha on Friday, alleging that the Central Government was dilly dallying on the issue citing one excuse or the other. The State was eagerly waiting for the grant of special category status that would ensure accelerated development of the newly formed State and provide it a level playing field with the neighbouring States like Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. He recalled the assurances given in Parliament during the passage of the AP Reorganisation Act, but several of them remained unfulfilled so far.

Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, then in the Opposition, emphasised the need for providing special category status to Andhra Pradesh for 10 years, not five years, to ensure speedy development of the new State.

The Minister, however, conveniently ignored the issue after coming to power, he alleged. Another Congress MP from Telangana Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar, too, supported the cause. The Centre should not only accord SCS to Andhra Pradesh but also provide grants for construction of the new capital liberally. This would go a long way in establishing a congenial atmosphere between the two States, he said.

Centre ignoring the interests of A.P. in spite of assurances made on the floor of Parliament

K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao