Chandrababu Naidu seeks special status tag for Andhra Pradesh before Amaravati fete
Vijayawada: Just a day ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Amaravati foundation stone-laying ceremony, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu late on Tuesday night raised the issue of special category status for AP.
“This is not the first time that I have been making this demand but this is an occasion. A lot of injustice has been done to AP and the state requires a helping hand. Special packages alone will not suffice and we want special category status which could meet much of our expenses,” he told the media here.
“Special category status is the Telugu people’s desire and the Centre should respect their sentiment. Till a level playing field is achieved, till such time that AP is on par with all other states, the Centre should help us and it is possible only through special category status,” he said.
On the Congress’ decision not to attend the Amaravati fete, Mr Naidu said, “The Congress is responsible for all the ills that the state is facing now. The manner in which the bifurcation was done was a farce and the state has to suffer for years together.”
Also read:
Amaravati will be world class, says Chandrababu Naidu
Water and soil, brought from across the state, to be sprinkled all over Amaravati
Chandrababu Naidu lights up Sankalpa Jyothi
Telangana contributes soil for Andhra Pradesh’s Capital
Cycle rally from Hyderabad to Amaravati turns controversial
10 lakh jobs in the offing in five years, says Nara Lokesh
Sky lanterns to be part of D-Day
New Andhra Pradesh capital: Hyderabad hoteliers get a sinking feeling
Telugu Netizens welcome K Chandrasekhar Rao’s proposed visit to AP capital ceremony
Talking about the letter of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s letter to Mr Modi asking for special status for AP, Mr Naidu said he should “explain why he wrote a letter just before the Amaravati foundation stone is laid, and why he has been silent all this time.”
Criticising YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his decision to skip the function, Mr Naidu said, “This shows his state of mind.” Both the YSRC and the Congress do not want a capital for AP, he remarked.
The Chief Minister has asked people not to believe in rumours spread by some parties or individuals. “Some parties are out to create trouble. Don’t believe in any rumour that there will be heavy flow of traffic or a stampede Don’t panic,” he said.
He said that the government had taken every possible precaution to ensure the safety of all visitors. “From 9 am to 12 noon there willl be only entry towards Uddandarayapalem. The exit will be only after 1.30 pm and people will be sent through different roads,” Mr Naidu said.
