Nellore: Demanding that the Union government fulfil all the promises made during the bifurcation of the state including special status, former minister and MLC Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said that people will not believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the Centre fails to grant special status to AP. He took strong objection to linking the subject to Niti Ayog while addressing a large number of TD cadres and leaders during Mini Mahanadu held at Nellore on Monday.
Alleging that injustice is being done to AP, he cautioned the BJP that special tag issue would boomerang against them during elections if they ignore the matter now. While assuring to continue as alliance partner with BJP, he said that they will not compromise on their justified demands. The senior TD leader lamented over the failure of the Centre to address Rs 16,000 crore revenue shortfall while pointing to Rs 2,800 crore given so far. He sought to know how the State will survive with such meagre assistance. Mr Chandramohan Reddy also found fault with the Centre for providing a mere Rs 50 crore to each district under special package per annum.
He demanded Rs 1,000 crore per annum to Polavaram for speedy completion of the project. He dwelt at length on pending issues such as railway division for Visakhapatnam, Steel Plant at Kadapa and Dugarajapatnam Port while urging the Centre to take measures to implement the projects. He said that Nellore will overtake all other districts in the state if Dugarajapatnam Port and airport are established without further delay. Ministers Siddha Raghava Rao and P. Narayana, TD senior leaders Butchaiah Chowdary, senior TD leader Bezawada Obul Reddy, legislators K. Ramakrishna, Pasam Suneel Kumar, Polamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy, MLCs Vakati Narayana Reddy and Beeda Ravichandra, former legislators Parasa Ratnam, Nelavala Subra-hmanyam, Beeda Mast-an Rao and Anam Vivek-ananda Reddy were present among others.
