The turmoil generated across the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh in the aftermath of the denial of Special Category Status (SCS) by the BJP government at the Centre is spreading fast among different segments.
Crying hoarse over what they call a gross betrayal by the Centre, people at large have expressed their angst pledging their support to any political party, organisation or individuals who can ensure the status and protect their future. “The Centre has deceived the State. The guidelines based on which the National Development Council (NDC), an erstwhile Planning Commission body that has granted Central plan assistance to SCS States in the past, can be amended,” argues M.V. Anjaneyulu, general secretary of Vijayawada Taxpayers’ Association.
Unlike in the case of the SCS wherein the benefits would be equally distributed to all sections of society, he maintains, the special package of funds restricts development to the private sector.Farooq Shubli, Krishna district president of the Muslim Hakkula Porata Samithi, is worried about the future of the younger generation in the absence of jobs as no industrialist will come forward to invest here in the absence of sops that accompany SCS,” he said.
'Gross betrayal'
“The BJP has grossly betrayed the people of AP and TDP is equally responsible for the current mess the State has landed in,” complained Kaushik P., an engineering graduate.
There are also youngsters like Tarun Kakani, CEO of an IT firm and AP CII’s CSR panel member, who chose to take a rational stand. “No doubt we need and deserve more funds to put the State on the rails. But instead of boiling the whole thing down to SCS, we should instead focus on creating an eco-system for the State that will attract investors. Take for instance the GST which will prevail across the country very soon. The fact that both AP and Telangana have given their nod for it shows that they are aware of the benefits associated with it. Then there is the Polavaram project, which, once completed, will become the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
