Stop AP Special Status Politics: Centre

Union ministers Nirmala Sitaraman and Venkaiah Naidu today alleged that some of the Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh were using the Special Status issue for political gains, and asked why the previous Congress government did not include the Special Status issue in the A P Reorganization Act, 2014.

Emphasising the advantages of the special financial package given to AP, the union ministers said that the Centre was extending more financial assistance to Andhra Pradesh than it would get with the Special Status.

They also said that the package included an industrial corridor, which would pave the way for employment opportunities and infrastructure development.

Naidu also said that while as per the Reorganization Act educational institutions needed to be opened only within 10 years of the bifurcation, the Centre had set up several educational institutions in the State in the first two years itself.

They however said that no decision was taken on the establishment of the railway zone although it had been included in the package.

Naidu said that there was a need for mutual cooperation between the Centre and the States.

"The Prime Minister is paying special attention to Andhra Pradesh due to the losses incurred by it after the bifurcation. If the State and the Central government cooperate, the State can be developed within a decade," he said.

The two union ministers said that they would visit all the districts in AP along with the State BJP leaders and educate the people about the assistance that the Centre was giving to the State.