Shifting of prestigious educational institutions to other places after making an announcement that they would be established in Visakhapatnam and north Andhra, came in for severe criticism from the YSR Congress.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, YSRC district president Gudiwada Amarnath took exception to the decision to shift the Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM) to Kondapalli in Krishna district after it was announced that it would be set up at Anakapalle.
He said the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) and Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) were shifted to other districts after an announcement was made that they would be set up in Visakhapatnam. He alleged that the funds given by the Centre under the special package to backward districts in North Andhra were being diverted by the government.
The Partnership Summit was held in Visakhapatnam to attract investments, spending huge sums on publicity.
He wondered whether any investments were made in A.P. after the summit.
Railway zone
Replying to a query, Mr. Amarnath said that the YSRC had not given up its agitation seeking establishment of a new railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam. “I temporarily suspended my stir as the Railway Minister was elected to Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh and hoped that he would take a positive decision on the issue,” he said.
On metro rail, he felt that if the largest city in Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam, did not have the required numbers to justify the project, no other city could stake a claim.
‘Hyderabad mistake’
The Capital-centric development method of the Chief Minister would result in a repeat of the Hyderabad mistake, and people of North Andhra would raise the banner of revolt if the region was neglected. YSRC leader and former MLA T. Vijay Kumar was among others present.
‘Funds given by the Centre under special package for backwards districts being diverted’
