Narendra Modi, K Chandrasekhar Rao to make strong Telangana

Hyderabad: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have promised Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao the Centre’s full support in the development of the newly-carved Telangana state.

The Chief Minister, who had very cordial talks with them in New Delhi on Saturday, submitted a 14-point memorandum to the Prime Minister.

It included granting of special status to Telangana with all financial incentives, tax exemptions, special packages and new projects.

Mr Rao invited President Mukherjee to inaugurate the 164 countries International Partnership Summit to be held in Hyderabad shortly and the latter promised to consider the invitation.

“I have a home in Hyderabad. I will come home,” the President reportedly said.

Congratulating Mr Rao for achieving statehood for Telangana, the President, who was in jovial mood, reportedly remarked, “Only you could do it. You started it and you finished it. A lot of people could not see Telangana.” Mr Rao bowed and thanked the President for his support, it is learnt.

Earlier in the day, Mr Rao and his delegation of MPs, including TRS Parliamentary Party leader Dr K. Kesava Rao, party leader in the Lok Sabha Jithender Reddy and other MPs had an hour-long discussion with the Prime Minister.

Mr Rao also had a 15-minute one-to-one talk with Mr Modi privately.

“We had highly cordial talks with the President and the PM. Mr Modi has promised full support for the development of Telangana. He assured us special incentives, new projects and other requirements for the new state,” Mr Jithender Reddy told Deccan Chronicle from Delhi.

The controversial ordinance merging seven mandals of Khammam district with Andhra Pradesh under the Polavaram project did not figure in the 14-point demands Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao submitted to the Prime Minister, but he reportedly brought up the issue with both the President and the Prime Minister, requesting that the ordinance be cancelled and the seven mandals remain with Telangana.

The delegation led by Chief Minister explained the problems faced by the new state, such as shortage of power, funds needed for completing pending irrigation projects, the need for new projects and their objection to the merger of seven mandals in Khammam.

The 14-point memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister:

1. Special category status for Telangana

2. Pranahita-Chevella to be declared a national project

3. Tax incentives for industrialisation for Telangana

4. 4,000 MW power plant in Telangana

5. Separate High Court for Telangana

6. Funds for development of Hyderabad agglomeration as slum-free city

7. Musi River conservation project

8. Horticulture University, Girijan University

9. Tribal University

10. Rs 15,000 crore for development of highways

11. SAIL steel plant in Bayyaram in Khammam district

12. Railway projects in Telangana including Kazipet as special division and coach factory in Warangal

13. Laying of new roads, upgrading of roads in backward regions of Telangana

14. Special fund for conservation of forest lands in Telangana