Expected PM to fulfil Andhra Pradesh promises, says Manmohan Singh

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said he had expected his successor Narendra Modi to fulfil the UPA government’s commitment on special category status to Andhra Pradesh as it was a promise made after consulting BJP leaders. Addressing the Rajya Sabha during a debate on Andhra Pradesh, Mr Singh said he had made a “solemn commitment” on the floor of the House as Prime Minister of India on February 20, 2014.

The assurance on special category status to the “successor state” of Andhra Pradesh was given after discussing the issue with Arun Jaitley, then leader of the Opposition, and other senior BJP leaders, Singh said. “Commitments made on the floor of the House are to be honoured and fulfilled. They are in the nature of an assurance on behalf of Parliament. I had expected my distinguished successor to fulfil the commitment I had made after consultation with his own colleagues,” the former Prime Minister said.

However, virtually ruling out granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh, home minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre was providing more assistance than what it would have got under that status. Assuring the Rajya Sabha that all promises made to the people of the state would be fulfilled, the minister said 90 per cent of promises made under the AP Re-organisation Act, which had led to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014, have already been fulfilled.