Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has come down heavily on the Budget, saying that the state has met with injustice even in the last budget of the current dispensation at the Centre. Saying that hollowness that has been the hallmark of this government continues, he tweeted, "No mention of special status or pending issues of AP reorganization act 2014. Andhra Pradesh as usual is deeply discriminated. People can't be fooled forever. They will face the wrath of AP people.”
The hollowness that has been the hall mark of this Govt continues. No mention of special status or pending issues of AP reorganization act 2014.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 1, 2019
Andhra Pradesh as usual is deeply discriminated.
People can't be fooled forever. They will face the wrath of AP people.#ModiBetrayedAP
Alleging that the state had been ignored despite the need for funds as a bifurcated state, he said, "AP is as much a part of this country as any other state, then why have we been bearing the brunt of the Centre’s discrimination? A state that has achieved 10.52% growth rate despite all the hurdles post-bifurcation, surely deserves more cooperation from the Centre."
Chandrababu also took part in a meeting with Opposition leaders in New Delhi, where he addressed the media along with Congress President Rahul Gandhi, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and others.
Taking a dig at the Budget, Naidu said, "If you observe carefully, this budget is a post dated cheque drawn on a collapsing bank. Nothing substantial and concrete for the citizens. After sleeping for four and half years, the union government suddenly announces these post dated measures."
On the other hand, YSRCP General Secretary and MP Vijaya Sai Reddy also reacted to the Budget, saying, "There is no single reference to the state of Andhra Pradesh in the budget. It shows that the state met with complete injustice, there is no reference of Special Category Status (SCS), separate railway zone and allocations for the Polavaram project."
Reddy alleged that CM Chandrababu Naidu too was equally responsible for the injustice to the state, since he had been part of the last four years’ 'budgets'.