Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday released the first of 10 ‘white papers’ on the implementation of various developmental promises. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief used the occasion to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not delivering on promises made to the state at the time of the state’s bifurcation.
The 32-page white paper was on the ‘Implementation of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 and the connected assurances’ containing details about the current status of various promises made to Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation.
Listing out the present status of the Act, Naidu said that various promises made to the state are yet to be fulfilled. “The Special Category Status (SCS) was not given to AP. Even the provisions like the establishment of Greyhounds Training Centre, increase in the number of Assembly seats, the division of AP Bhavan, bifurcation of institutions listed in Schedule IX (89 institutions) and Schedule X (142 institutions) and setting up of river management boards were not implemented.”
Naidu took the opportunity to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a man of words and no action. "The BJP did a grave injustice to Andhra Pradesh. Does the Prime Minister want to come here to see if we are alive or dead? First, do justice to the State and then come to talk about your policies. We don't have any objection," said Naidu, in response to the prime minister’s scheduled visit to Guntur on January 6.
He further accused the Centre of miscalculating the resource gap and said, “Only Rs 4,177 crore was due to AP instead of Rs 16,078 crore. Further, they are yet to release Rs 135 crore out of Rs 4,177 crore dues. Funds for the capital city Amaravati are not forthcoming.” Naidu added that the TDP is planning to stage a massive protest in January against the Centre over the unfulfilled promises.