In a sharp reaction to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s observation that the Centre denied Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh but was extending it to three other States, Bharatiya Janata Party State president and MP K. Haribabu challenged the former to prove it.
Mr. Haribabu said there was no point in clamouring for SCS, when the Centre had promised to extend special assistance equivalent to the status. It was a wrong notion that the Centre was extending SCS to other States. “If it were true, let them (TDP) prove it,” he said.
Notwithstanding the row, the Centre would elicit A.P.’s opinion on SCS and revenue deficit, the two contentious issues, he said addressing the BJP Krishna district party extended meeting here on Friday.
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There was no dispute over the assistance provided to the State through Centrally-sponsored schemes as part of the special package. The dispute over bridging the revenue deficit for the year 2014-15 would also be resolved soon, he said.
Reeling out “facts and figures,” the MP said that only the Dugarajapatnam port, the Kadapa steel plant and Visakhapatnam railway zone did not happen though they were promised in the AP Reorganisation Act.
The State government had to suggest an alternative as Dugarajapatnam could not be taken up for technical reasons. The task force on the Kadapa steel plant gave its report recently and it would be a reality soon.
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Rail zone
Though the railway zone at Visakhapatnam was found to be not feasible, the Centre was discussing the issue with neighbouring States to find a way out. “We are hopeful that a positive decision emerge soon,” he said.