Financial aid only to Andhra Pradesh, says Arun Jaitley

Hyderabad: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said AP would be given special financial assistance in view of the losses it incurred due to bifurcation of the state. However he did not make any commitment on Special Status to Andhra Pradesh but said the Centre would extend more funds to the state to make up its deficit.

He also said it was the Centre’s commitment to provide necessary funds for the infrastructure set up in the new Andhra Pradesh capital like Secretariat, High Court, Raj Bhavan etc. He also said the Centre would help Andhra Pradesh in terms of providing more financial assistance in the all the projects it is going to take up like water, capital and central projects in the new state.

He further said if the country grows at a higher rate, then states like Andhra Pradesh also will have higher resources at its command. He said presently the Sub-Committee of NITI Aayog headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is considering continuation of Special Category Status to Northeast states which was discontinued following the recommendation of 14th Finance Commission.