Hyderabad: A disappointed Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday criticised the Union Budget 2014-15, presented by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, for ignoring Telangana.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the Union Budget vis-a-vis Telangana, Mr Rao pointed out that but for the Horticulture University, no other project was given to Telangana. “The Horticulture University sanction was also mentioned in the state Reorganisation Bill, it’s not a new thing. The Union Budget simply mentioned that the commitments of the Reorganisation Act would be fulfilled but no specific mention has been made,” the Chief Minister said.
The TRS MPs had demanded that the Centre give “Special Category” status to Telangana, since as many as eight districts out of 10 have been listed as backward by the Centre, and other projects and funds on par with Andhra Pradesh.
TRS secretary general and Rajya Sabha member Dr K. Kesava Rao, too flayed the Union government for ignoring the fledgling state in providing funds and projects in the Budget.
TRS MP Kadiam Srihari said the Centre had showed utter contempt towards Telangana while showering projects on Andhra Pradesh.
Another TRS MP, Mr A.P. Jitender Reddy, said the Central government had done a great injustice to Telangana in the Railway as well as the Union Budget.
“The backward state of Telangana has been totally ignored by the Modi government. The projects that should have come to Telangana have been given to AP,” he alleged.
TRS MP Kavitha, meanwhile expressing anguish over the Modi government’s failure to provide moral support to the people of the new state. “We expected moral support from the Modi government, but it has totally ignored the needs of Telangana. This kind of bias is uncalled for. The Centre should have provided equal justice to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,” she added.
Asking people not to be disheartened at the Centre’s stance, she accused Union Minister, M. Venkaiah Naidu, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of playing a diabolical role in denying projects and funds to new Telangana state.
“This cannot go on for long. Their attempts will not succeed in the long run. Support or no support, development in Telangana cannot be curtailed. The development will go on. We will fight for schemes and funds with the central government departments,” she said.
