Andhra Pradesh Doesn't Need Special Status: BJP

Stating that the Centre had already given Rs. 1.75 lakh crores to Andhra Pradesh, BJP Andhra Pradesh in-charge Siddharthanath Singh said that there was no need to accord Special Status to the State.

Speaking to the media in Vijayawada on Friday after the BJP core committee meeting, Singh alleged that some political parties were playing low-level politics demanding "Special Status" to Andhra Pradesh. He said that there was no mention in the A P Re-organisation Act that special status was to be accorded to Andhra Pradesh.

He also said that there was no mention that the Centre even needed to meet the revenue deficit of the State. "But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is plugging the revenue deficit every year as he feels Andhra Pradesh is a state with special requirements," he said.

Singh said that the Centre was sanctioning Rs. 22,112 crores every year to bridge the State's revenue deficit, and had already released Rs. 7,020 crores under it. The State was also getting Rs. 2,06,919 crores in the form of taxes. In addition, the Centre was also giving Rs. 1.43 lakh crores for the construction of various projects. He also pointed out that the Central Surface Transport Department itself had given Rs. 65,000 crores to the State, and demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government release a white paper on the funds released by the Centre.

"Some political parties are indulging in fraudulent politics for votes though the Centre is giving such funds to the State," he said.

He said that the Centre was setting up a committee comprising five members to monitor the projects being constructed with the funds sanctioned by the Centre. The committee would communicate the progress of the projects to the people by consulting the departments concerned.

Stating that Polavaram Project was a national project, Singh made it clear that the Centre would give 100% funds to the project. He pointed out that NABARD had already announced that it would give Rs. 16,000 crores to the project. Finding fault with the TDP leaders indirectly, Singh alleged that some leaders were making false propaganda on it.

He said that BJP leaders would meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu every month and try to resolve problems related to coordination.

Singh added that there would be another Core Committee meeting in June at Vijayawada, and Party chief Amit Shah would attend to the inauguration meeting or the conclusion meeting. The local BJP would organize a huge rally on the occasion of Shah's visit.

BJP senior leaders Haribabu, Somu Veerraju, Purandeshwari and Kanna Laxminarayana were present.