Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister lashed out at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Monday, saying that the Congress was responsible for the bifurcation of the state.
The Congress Vice-President was on visit to Andhra Pradesh, and had addressed a rally on special category status to the state.
“Instead of saying sorry to the people of Andhra Pradesh for the unethical bifurcation, the Congress is trying to play with sentiments in the name of SCS,” Chandrababu was quoted as saying, on the fourth day of the Nava Nirmana Deeksha.
The Chief Minister defended the state government’s decision to settle for the special package announced by the Centre.
During his visit to Andhra, Gandhi promised that special category status will be given to Andhra Pradesh, if his party is voted to power in the 2019 assembly elections. Naidu accused the Congress of stoking emotions.
“All of a sudden, the Congress is head over heels in love with Andhra Pradesh and the SCS. The people have to be wary of the Congress’s deceptive demands and agitations,” The Hindu quoted Naidu as saying.
He also alleged that Congress had taken no measures to ensure legality for the SCS and was now using the topic for its own interest.
The Congress party failed to win even a single Assembly or Lok Sabha seat in Andhra during the 2014 general elections, as the public blamed it for bifurcating the state.
During the debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in Parliament, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised the special status to Andhra Pradesh for five years.
Even during the 2014 elections, both the parties BJP and TDP, had promised the special status for 10 years.
However, after BJP came to power, the Centre ruled out special status, citing a report of the 14th Finance Commission, which dictates that no state other than north-eastern and hilly states could be given this status.