Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu advised the Chief Ministers of the two Telugu states to work together for the development of their respective states, and to avoid differences.
Replying after being felicitated by the Andhra Pradesh government in Amaravathi upon his first visit to the state after assuming charge as Vice-President, Naidu asked the CMs to protect the Telugu language and culture, and implement Telugu in administration.
The Vice-President said that the two CMs should resolve their differences through discussions. It was his wish that the two Telugu states should develop and prosper even more.
"During my stint in Delhi, I tried my best for Andhra Pradesh - I helped in getting the state an IIT, an IIM, funds for the Polavaram project, CIPET, a defence unit and so on. I toured more than 600 districts in the country and have seen several governments in my 40 years of political career. I swear that no state has got the kind of huge financial assistance from the Centre that Andhra Pradesh has," he remarked.
Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and others attended the function.
Earlier, the Vice-President received a grand welcome at the Gannavaram airport from with Chandrababu Naidu and E S L Narasimhan in presence. Union ministers, state ministers and TDP leaders were present in a large number to receive him. He was taken in a special vehicle from the airport to Vijayawada.