Telangana finance minister accuses Centre of bias towards Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Telangana finance minister Etela Rajender on Saturday lashed out at the NDA government at the Centre, accusing it of not extending any special financial assistance to the new state of Telangana.

Mr Rajender criticised the Centre for not releasing CST arrears and the backward areas development fund to Telangana state so far, while extending the same to Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Rajender attended the states finance ministers’ meeting convened by Union finance minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi on Saturday.

He told the meeting, “As per AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Centre should provide special package for the development of backward areas in AP and TS. Though NITI Aayog recommended a special package to the Union finance ministry for TS, it was not honoured till today, while AP was given Rs 700 crore.”