Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao has alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had entered into a secret understanding with the Central government that it would be enough if it gave a financial package in lieu of the Special Category Status (SCS) and bear only the estimated cost (as on April 1, 2014) of the Polavaram project.
“No one knows who will come to power at the Centre and in A.P. in 2019 and what will happen to the clandestine agreements. At least now, try to protect the interests of A.P.,” Mr. Rao said in an open letter to the CM on Sunday.
‘No legal sanctity’
The special financial assistance claimed to have been extended to A.P. did not have any legal sanctity and that the Central government reneged on its commitment to bear the entire cost of the Polavaram project as envisaged in the A.P. Reorganisation Act. This was because Mr. Naidu was least bothered about the consequences of the BJP breaking its promises.
He continued to mislead the people on various counts perhaps under the belief he could hang on to power when in fact nobody was permanent in a democracy.
Mr. Rao said the CM should support the Congress party’s fight for the State’s rights on both issues instead of obstructing its efforts. The CM need not ask for anything over and above what had been promised at the time of the bifurcation.
The Congress MP said many projects given to A.P. had either not taken a tangible shape yet or were stuck at various stages due to funding issues.
For instance, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences coming up at Mangalagiri in Guntur district had so far only a wall constructed around the site.
The proposed port at Dugarajapatnam, railway zone, steel plant in Kadapa district and several others remained unfilled promises three years after the bifurcation, Mr. Rao said, reiterating that the CM should translate his words into deeds.
