KCR seeks early release of Central funds for development works

Chief Minister discusses with Union Finance Minister various issues related to Telangana

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao with Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Thursday.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, currently here to attend a conference as well as the reception organised by Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on the occasion of his daughter’s recent wedding, called on the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday evening and discussed various outstanding issues related to his State.

According to the officials of the State who were with the Chief Minister at the meeting in the course of his interaction, Mr. Rao asked Mr. Jaitley to ensure early release of the second instalment of money due to Telangana for development of backward areas.

Difficulties faced by the people of Telangana on account of the withdrawal of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 rupee notes also figured in the course of the discussion.

In the fourth week of November Mr. Rao had represented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a moratorium on the loans to be repaid by the States to the Centre to help them tide over the currency crisis.

Mr. Rao was in Delhi last time for a special interactive session with the Prime Minister on the situation triggered by the ban on Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes.

In the course of his meeting with Mr. Modi the Telangana Chief Minister made a plea that the old currency kept by women and housewives, as home contingency fund, should not be considered illegal. He also wanted the Prime Minister to direct that all private hospitals should accept old currency notes till normalcy returns.

In contrast to the cautious welcome extended by Mr. Rao on the currency ban, his counterpart in Andhra Pradesh had actually been a vocal supporter of the move by the Modi government. Official statement of the Telangana Chief Minister had quoted Mr. Rao as saying that all those having more than Rs. 2.5 lakh as income or savings should not be treated as black money holders.

After the meeting with the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Rao accompanied by TRS leaders attended the reception hosted by the Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on the recent wedding of his daughter.