Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu got support from actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan to pressurise the Centre to accord special category status to the state and secure financial support to build the capital.
Mr Naidu is visibly dissatisfied with lack of major allocations for AP in the Union Budget on Saturday,
At a two-hour meeting at Mr Naidu’s residence on Sunday, Pawan Kalyan discussed with the Chief Minister the issues of meagre funding for AP in the Union Budget and also the capital lands imbroglio.
Mr Naidu is likely to fly to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to point out the unfair treatment meted out to AP in the Budget. Sources said he would demand the Centre to sanction more funds liberally to both Telugu states, particularly to AP. He is also likely to tour the capital area to get a first-hand understanding of the farmers’ problems.
Sources said both, Mr Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, expressed dissatisfaction over the Budget provisions and decided to pressurise the Centre for more funds.
The actor-politician had recently tweeted: “The time has come for the BJP to fulfil the promises made to the people”.
Pawan Kalyan inquired about the objections of some farmers to land-pooling for the capital. Mr Naidu tried to assuage the misgivings of the farmers by explaining to them the advantages of the land pooling and assuring them that the government was being liberal in compensating them.
Pawan Kalyan is slated to tour the capital region and meet farmers, reluctant to hand over their lands. On returning he will speak with the government.
Sources said his itinerary would be finalised in a day or two, given his proposed meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
