TRS Suspects World Bank Rankings Of States

TRS leaders on Tuesday expressed surprise and suspicion over the World Bank ranking Telangana the 13th most investor-friendly state in India.

While IT Minister K Taraka Rama Rao dismissed the list as inconsequential, Bhongir MP Boora Narsaiah Goud expressed suspicion of foul play behind the rankings.

Pointing out that Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were also at the forefront in attracting investments, Boora said that there was no mention of these States in the list.

"What is the reason for omitting these States from World Bank list?" he asked.

Chevella MP K Vishweshwar Reddy said the World Bank had released the report based on last year's survey. Had the World Bank conducted the survey this year, Telangana would have got any position between first and fifth, he said.

The World Bank rankings of India States on "Ease of Doing Business", released on Monday, had rated Andhra Pradesh as the second best investment destination in India, second to Gujarat.

The home State of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on top of the list with a score of 71.14%, followed by Andhra Pradesh, ruled by N Chandrababu Naidu, an ally of the BJP-led NDA government.