Andhra Pradesh only wants its share: Yanamala Ramakrishnudu

Vijayawada: Rejecting calls to release white paper on the allocation of funds by the Centre to the state, AP finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Saturday said that so far, Rs 6,400 crore has been released for the state.

He said that there was no need to make public allocations and expenditure when the figures are presented in the Assembly every three months.

Referring to the comments made by AP BJP in-charge Siddharth Nath Singh Mr Ramakrishnudu told reporters here that some elements were trying to break up the TD-BJP alliance.

Emphasising that bifurcation was forced upon the people of AP, he said that the state was far behind several other states in South India.

“AP had utilised its borrowing limits, taking loans worth Rs 15,000 crore in 2014-2015 and Rs 24,000 crore in 2015-2016. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 17 and request him for more funds for AP’s development,” Mr Ramakrishnudu said.

Reacting to the 14th finance commission recommendations, the finance minister said that AP would urge the Centre to release 50 per cent funds towards its share of tax revenue, instead of 42 per cent recommended.

He said that the state was facing a severe cash crunch due to several Central schemes being stopped and some allocations cut.

Referring to the BJP’s claims that Rs 65,000 crore has been allotted to AP for road projects, Mr Ramakrishnudu said that this was part of the national level project and not for AP alone.

“I want to make it clear that AP does not want to criticise the Centre, but seeks coordination with it,” he said. Mr Ramakrishnudu said that the TD government has never criticised the Centre but certain forces were trying to create an image that there was a “cold war” between the TD and the BJP.

“The TD is only asking for funds and allocations promised in the AP Reorganisation Act and the party would continue to demand its share of funds from the Centre for the sake of the state,” Mr Ramakrishnudu said.

He said that the state Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh and the TD would do its best to make it a reality, Mr Ramakrishnudu said.