NAIDU PLEADS FOR SOPS IN ASSEMBLY

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said that the Centre should resolve all pending issues before the end of the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

Taking a dig at the BJP he said when even AICC president Rahul Ganhi offered to accord special status to the state and had said that it would be first file he would sign on if the Congress returns to power at the Centre in 2019 elections, what stops the BJP from doing so.

Giving a statement on state bifurcation issues in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister expressed deep anguish at the denial of special status to Andhra Pradesh.

In an emotion-filled voice, Mr Naidu questioned, “What is this humiliation and injustice to the state?”

It is a matter of selfrespect of Andhra people, he said, and demanded that the Centre fulfil all the 18 assurances made in Parliament at the time the state was bifurcated.

Special status is the right of Andhras, Mr Naidu declared, and insisted there was no compromise on the issue.

When the Centre has extended special status benefits in the name of budgetary support to North Eastern states, why has it failed to extend the same to AP? he asked.

The CM explained the efforts made to achieve the highest ever growth rate in the state despite the revenue deficit.

He refuted criticism that the Centre has been delaying release of funds because his government has not submitted the utilisation certificates, i.e. accounted for the manner in which funds already released have been used.

He explained in detail the funds released by the Centre for the Polavaram project, building a new capital city and other institutions.