The Communist Party of India (CPI) has criticised the BJP-led Central government for ‘reneging on’ the promises made to Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation.
The CPI State committee meeting that began here on Wednesday expressed concern that the promises of according special category status to AP, special package for backward regions in Rayalaseema and north Andhra, and allocations to bridge the fiscal and revenue deficit were remained unfulfilled. The CPI leaders recalled that the Congress had promised special category status and other handholding measures for the new State in the Parliament and it was supported by the BJP, then the main Opposition party.
Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu then claimed that the five-year special category status to AP would not serve the purpose and wanted it be extended by five years more, they said.
The leaders further alleged that the Union Minister who supported the special category status while in Opposition was now giving divergent statements, indicating that the much-awaited announcement might not be a reality. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on his part, was maintaining silence in spite of the Centre meting out injustice to the State in the Railway and Union Budgets.
The meeting had resolved to launch a sustained agitation in support of the demands for special category status and other issues. .
