Hyderabad: The TRS on Tuesday flayed the Centre, accusing it of bias against Telangana in providing sops to the new state. TRS Floor leader in the Lok Sabha A.P. Jitender Reddy said in the House on Tuesday: “Sir (Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu), reading out what you have done and (are) doing for AP is not enough. Please also read out what you have done and are doing for Telangana. You cannot be biased against Telangana. Treat both states equally.” He also was reacting to Mr Naidu’s statement in Parliament on the Centre’s support for AP.
Mr Reddy demanded immediate bifurcation of the High Court, national status for irrigation projects and establishment of AIIMS, horticultural and tribal universities among others as promised in the AP Reorganisation Act. “There should be no partiality. Treat both states equally. What you give to AP, you should also give to TS,” he said. He was backed by party MP K. Kavitha.
Mr Reddy raised the issue during a reply by Mr Naidu on the adjournment motion moved by Congress members seeking special status to AP. He said that during the two years since TS came into being, not a single promise made to the new state was fulfilled by Centre. Mr Naidu said there was no mention of special status in the AP Reorganisation act, but the Centre would stand by AP and help it develop.
Commitments to AP will be kept: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today assured the Rajya Sabha that the Centre will fulfil all commitments made to AP in 'letter and spirit'. “The Centre is fully committed to helping the newly-created state after bifurcation. There are several commitments which are involved in the AP Reorganisation Act. The Centre will honour each of those commitments in letter and spirit,” he said.
“Each paisa or rupee of this revenue deficit is being paid to Andhra Pradesh...we will continue to pay that,” the Union finance minister said, referring to the revenue deficit. He said institutions have to be set up in the state; foundation stones have been laid, funds sanctioned and in some cases work is in an advance stage.
