Chief Minister and TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday rebutted BJP national president Amit Shah’s and other leaders’ allegation that the State government did not submit Utilisation Certificates (UCs) for the funds sanctioned by the Centre, through a presentation at the Mahanadu on the accounts furnished in the stipulated format, which the NITI Aayog found to be in order.
Minister for Mines and Geology R.V. Sujaya Krishna Rao got the UCs exhibited in the form of slides and went on to screen another presentation in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen explaining the concept of the development of Dholera in Gujarat into a world-class city.
‘Gujarat bias’
Mr. Naidu asked how could Mr. Modi splurge huge sums on development of Dholera which is touted to be double the size of Delhi and six times larger than Shanghai, and on statues in Gujarat while being tight-fisted when it comes to the financial support his government was obliged to extend to A.P.
The UCs shown to the participants include the ones for ₹1,582 crore spent on the capital city Amaravati against ₹1,500 crore given by the Centre, ₹420 crore that went into the construction of underground drains against ₹1, 000 crore sanctioned by the Centre, which contended that only eight % of it was utilised, and ₹946 crore spent of the ₹1,050 crore given by the Centre for the development of seven districts in north Andhra and Rayalaseema.
SCS demanded
These and other statistics formed the content of a resolution through which the TDP demanded that the BJP give Special Category Status, implement the reorganisation Act in letter and spirit and fulfil other assurances. It was moved by Mr. Ranga Rao and supported by former deputy speaker of the Assembly, B. Vedavyas.
Mr. Naidu alleged that the BJP launched a vicious campaign against A.P. through YSR Congress and the Jana Sena Party after going back on its promises in furtherance of its political interests in the State.
He stated that the Centre gave just ₹12,500 crore to A.P. under the APRA, which was a pittance compared to the ₹5 lakh-crore loss caused by bifurcation.
The Centre was yet to reimburse ₹2,800 crore spent by A.P. on the Polavaram project. He warned that if Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah obstructed the Amaravati project and continued to do injustice to A.P., their party would meet the same fate as the Congress.
