In the Rajya Sabha, members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Tuesday accused the government of not fulfilling the promise made by the previous government for development of the regions as assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress members J. D. Seelam and Subbirami Reddy (from Andhra Pradesh) and V. Hanumantha Rao (Congress member from Telangana) trooped into the well prompting Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to remark that it was “indiscipline”. They were supported by several Opposition parties, including the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Janata Dal (U) and the CPI(M).
The issue was raised during zero hour by Mr. Reddy who said that after bifurcation both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were in a financial crisis as even after nine months of being in power, the NDA government had not fulfilled the promises made by the previous government for development of the regions, including providing financial assistance to them.
Associating with them, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav and Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav urged the government to address the issue.
“No less a person than the Prime Minister had said that the promises will be fulfilled, but there is no mention in the President’s speech also,” said Mr. Azad. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi intervened to say that the NDA government was “committed” to developing the two States. “The Finance Minister has clearly said so in his Budget speech.”
