Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was visibly upset over the observation of NITI Aayog Vice- Chairman Rajiv Kumar that Andhra Pradesh might not require hand-holding to surmount the problems caused by bifurcation, and also Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s remark that there was no comparison between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Mr. Naidu asserted that the government would not hesitate to knock the doors of court if justice was not done to the State.
Speaking at the second day session of the Collector’s conference on Friday, he said, “Yesterday, he (Mr. Rajiv Kumar) made that comment. Telangana Chief Minister remarked that there was no comparison with AP. This pained me.”
The Chief Minister asserted that Andhra Pradesh was not asking any “extra favour” but only hand-holding until a level-playing field was established. The onus lies on the Centre and help AP, which has a low base economy and per capita income (PCI) was 25% to 30% less than neighbouring States, he said.
Mincing no words, Mr. Naidu said, “We will go to the Supreme Court if justice is not done to the State. We will list the injustices done to AP (on account of bifurcation). We will take whatever the Centre gives. Then we will move forward.”
Two options
He said there were two ways to recover from the effects of bifurcation and draw level with other States. “One, we have to work hard. Two, the Centre should extend its cooperation ,” he said.
Everybody was talking that injustice had been done to AP. The Centre has to play big brother role and sort out the issues amicably. The same thing was conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. AP would contribute for nation-building once it stood on its own feet, he said.
Taking objection to his TS counterpart’s comments, Mr. Naidu said that one has to compare the development that had taken place in Hyderabad before and after 1995.
“There is only one answer to it. Before and after 1995…analyse Hyderabad’s growth…it becomes obvious,” he said.
