Biggest-ever package of Rs 2.25 lakh crore extended to Andhra: Centre

Hyderabad: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said the financial assistance announced by the NDA government to Andhra Pradesh would be to the tune of Rs 2.25 lakh crore, biggest ever support extended to any state so far in the country.

"The Centre has announced financial assistance to the tune of Rs 2.25 lakh crore. People are satisfied (with the financial package). Some political parties are not happy. What can we do? Their intention is that we get out of the seat and they want to come. They will have to wait for that," he said.

Naidu was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 16th anniversary celebration of Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence.

"The assistance announced by the Centre to Andhra Pradesh has not been done to any state by any government in the history of the country in this short time. If you come with facts and figures, the Government is ready for a debate," he added.

The Centre on Wednesday announced a financial package for Andhra Pradesh that includes full funding of Pollavaram irrigation project, tax concessions and a special assistance, but stopped short of giving the state a special category status.

Naidu said some persons are trying to mislead people on special category status to AP by converting it into an "emotional" issue.

The minister also downplayed the criticism by actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan over not according special category status to AP, saying that he does not need anybody's certificate.

Kalyan, who campaigned for NDA during the last general elections, in a meeting recently held at Kakinada had hit out at Naidu for "not getting" special category status to AP as promised by the then Congress government at the time of bifurcation.

Hitting out at Naidu, Pawan had said the Information and Broadcasting Minister had "killed" BJP in Andhra Pradesh.

"They have liberty to comment. I don't need their certificate. Where were all these when the state was being bifurcated in 2014? I have my own work. I have to take care of my state, my people, my country and my party. Other things are taken care of by the people concerned," the minister said.

Earlier during his speech, Naidu said that Hindutva is not about religion but a way of life for Indians.