Naidu's Silence On Central Funds Unfair: YSRCP

Castigating the TDP government for not following up on the assurances given by the Centre on what it would do for Andhra Pradesh post-bifurcation, the YSR Congress Party demanded to know why Chandrababu Naidu was mum on the share the State had to receive as per the A P State Reorganisation Act.

"Instead of catching the Centre by its scruff of its neck and having it deliver on the promises given by the Prime Minister in Parliament, the TDP government is trying to search for ways and means to impose more taxes on the citizens and pool up finances through various other routes. Why is Naidu not raising the issues of Special Status for the new State, funds for the building of a capital city and other sops which were billed as the responsibility of the Centre?" party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma asked of reporters on Saturday.

The TDP government was only trying to overcome the deficit budget by passing it on to the people in the form of User Charges, hike in registration charges and downsizing the quantum of loan waiver, and was not questioning the Centre in any form about its dues, she alleged, adding that the silence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was raising many doubts.

"The rightful share of Andhra Pradesh, which is facing a financial crunch, should be acquired, and the TDP government has made no effort either in the form of representation or in raising the issue at the appropriate forums through its representatives, which shows that Chandrababu Naidu is unable to mount pressure on the Centre for reasons known best to him.

"Given that the Centre has assured that it will take the responsibility for the building of the new State capital, why is Naidu silent when the Union Budget has made no mention of the capital issue? Neither has he made an issue of the Budget offering no funding for the Polavaram Project or the promised 5-year special status to the 13 districts.

"Why is the State government silent and not taking the up the issue with the Centre, even though the TDP is a coalition partner of the NDA?" she demanded.

Chandrababu Naidu not reacting to the Centre's paltry Rs 30 paddy MSP increase showed his indifference towards farmers, she alleged. The TDP President had promised that he would turn agriculture into a profitable exercise, and that he would see to it that farmers got a return of 50% on their investment, but his silence on the issue spoke of his double standards, she added. (INN)