Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday called Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and "assured" the Centre would resolve "all issues" including the special status issue soon but Naidu said he was not satisfied with the assurance.
"Am I ever satisfied with anything? Never. That's my specialty," the Chief Minister remarked, when asked if he was satisfied with the Finance Minister's assurance.
He addressed a press conference late on Tuesday and once again dug into the history of the State's bifurcation and the problems it had left the residuary state with.
"Jaitley spoke to me this morning and said the Centre would resolve all issues, including the special status issue. He subsequently made an announcement in Parliament on this. He has to keep his word," Naidu said.
Over the last three days, the TDP chief targeted Jaitley, saying the latter's claims in Rajya Sabha on extension of financial assistance to AP were "not acceptable".
"BJP and TDP are partners, so we have the responsibility to do justice to AP," he said.
Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said his party MPs were not yet granted an appointment by the Prime Minister to present the state's case.
"I am going to Delhi on 4th to invite President, Vice- President, Chief Justice of India, Lok Sabha Speaker for the `Krishna Pushkaram' (a festival organised once in 12 years) beginning from August 12. If he gives me an appointment, I will meet the Prime Minister as well.
"Of course, I will raise state issues, including special status, with the PM," Naidu added.
Meanwhile, union minister from Andhra Pradesh Y S Chowdary said that the TDP is going to adopt a "wait and watch policy" on the issue.
"People of Andhra Pradesh are agitating for special status back home and people's representatives here in Parliament today also raised the demand. Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) has apparently spoken to Andhra Chief Minister. He (Jaitley) and Parliamentary Affairs Minister have also given assurance in the floor of the House today that they will look into the long-standing demand of special status for Andhra," Chowdary said.
The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology was addressing a press conference at the Andhra Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday evening.
"We (TDP) are part of the government and this is a friendly government and we will try to persuade the government. We have our plans but, we are going to maintain a wait and watch policy as of now," he said.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha was adjourned amid an uproar after members of NDA partner TDP and the opposition YSR Congress started shouting slogans demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The Lower House had witnessed two brief adjournments over the issue earlier in the day.
"Some members have concerns over particular issues. Government stands by its commitment. We are trying to find a solution to these issues," Jaitley intervened.
But after this assurance, the MPs sought a timeline for resolving the matter and continued raising slogans like "we want justice" and "we demand special status".
Chowdary, a Rajya Sabha member from TDP, on the sidelines of the press meet, told PTI, "People of Andhra Pradesh have been demanding special status for five years now. We have also sought an appointment with the Prime Minister on the matter."
A highly-placed source said, "Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has made several visits to Delhi lately to seek the special status for the state. It is a matter of pride now for us and we will continue our struggle for it.”
The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured on the floor of the House during his time of giving the status, the source said.