Hyderabad: Union Minister Sujana Chowdary on Thursday made the stand of the AP government clear that it would readily accept any special financial package from the Central government provided all benefits accrued for Special Category Status are included.
Addressing the media in Delhi along with TD MPs ahead of Centre’s expected announcement of a special package for the AP, Mr Chowdary said that AP cannot achieve the desired growth without benefits of SCS being guaranteed.
He said there were good signs this time from the Centre over granting of a special package for AP. He said that the TD was also hopeful of good days ahead for AP with the package that is expected to be announced in another week’s time.
Replying to a question, Mr Chowdary said that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was ready to come to Delhi for negotiations on the proposed special package only if accorded the same benefits like SCS for which all political parties and the AP government have been insisting on.
“Let the Centre give clarity on whether there will be further delay. What we want is to get a package that gives the same benefits as special status,” he said.
Mr Chowdary said that special category status will ensure 90 per cent of finances are borne by the Central government. “Since the Centre is saying that it cannot grant special status in the wake of 14th Finance Commission restrictions, we will accept special package if it sanctions 90 per cent finances for all the projects,” Mr Chowdary said.
He appealed to the media and critics not to politicise the issue as both the state and Central governments have to cooperate with each other and both need to act responsibly. With regard to announcing Railway Zone exclusively for AP, the Union minister said negotiations were still underway and clarity would emerge in the next three to four days.
