Members of Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samiti, representing various political parties and people’s organisations, on Monday resolved to give a final thrust to special status demand by launching a massive protest across the State involving all political parties barring TDP and BJP in the month of March.
CPI(M) State secretary P. Madhu, CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna, YSRCP city president Malladi Vishnu, Congress leader and former MLA Mastan Valli, CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar, Samiti convenor Chalasani Srinivas and others participated in a roundtable organised here.
“A concerted effort will be made to bring all the Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh on to one platform against Centre and Telugu Desam Party,” they said in unison. Mr. Ramakrishna said that both BJP and TDP were cheating the pubic by not fulfilling the promises made on the floor of the House by the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while passing the bifurcation bill. “Issues such as Vizag railway zone, Kadapa steel factory and port development were sidelined. Announcing special status as a closed chapter is not accepted,” he pointed put.
The senior Left leader found fault with Centre for suggesting World Bank loan for the construction of the capital city – Amaravati - when it is defined in the bifurcation Bill about Centre’s responsibility. “Centre is offering NABARD loan for Polavaram construction which is absurd.”
Mr. Madhu said that while Andhra Pradesh needed ₹11,600 crore for establishment of medical and health departments, the Centre had allocated a meagre ₹ 420 crore. “When AP claimed a deficit budget of ₹11,600 crore, the Centre calculated it (deficit) as ₹7,000 crore and released just ₹4,000 crore.”
YSRCP demand
YSRCP city president Malladi Vishnu demanded resignation of two TDP Members of Parliament and demanded Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to bring pressure on Centre on the special status.
Samiti convenor Chalasani Srinivas said that Chief Minister should come out with a white paper on the release of Central funds and urged him to approach Supreme Court against Centre.
