Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to Telangana on August 7 is likely to end without any big announcements such as the release of additional funds to the youngest state by the Central government. Generally states expect some kind of support from the Central government during such high profile visits.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who met Mr Modi in July, had also submitted a long wish list, which includes seeking Central help for various projects such as Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya.
The Telangana State government, however, it appears, does not expect too much from the Prime Minister’s first visit to the state in terms of monetary support to the state.
According to sources in the TRS, the Chief Minister will not seek any assurance from the Prime Minister on fund allocation to state at a public meeting — to be attended by both the leaders — at Gajwel.
Karimnagar TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar said the Chief Minister will not seek any help from the Centre at the public meeting. “On the invitation of the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister is coming to the state as a guest. We had already sought whatever support we want from the Centre. And now the guest should not be troubled by making more demands.”
On his part, the Chief Minister is pulling out all stops to impress Mr Modi. Sources claim that the TRS had told its cadre to make the Gajwel meeting a grand success by mobilising five lakh people.
Speaking to this newspaper, Telangana BJP Legislature Party leader G. Kishen Reddy said, “The Prime Minister normally avoids making any promises and announcements of funds during State tours.”
He added Mr Modi likes to sanction projects to various states without much fanfare. “The revival of Ramagundam fertilisers factory is one such example. So I don’t think he will promise anything new to Telangana.”
However senior Congress leader and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakara Reddy appealed to the Prime Minister to treat Telangana on par with Andhra Pradesh in granting funds and projects during his maiden visit to state.
