Special status for Andhra not feasible, Centre reiterates in SC

A state cabinet meeting is also expected to be held on Friday, which will discuss the issue.
Special status for Andhra not feasible, Centre reiterates in SC
Special status for Andhra not feasible, Centre reiterates in SC
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The Centre on Wednesday reiterated that it could not grant Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh in a counter affidavit filed in the Supreme Court.

The central government also listed out all the assistance that it had given to the state and claimed that all commitments under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, had been addressed.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Telangana Congress MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, which had marked the Union Finance Ministry as a respondent and asked for a response on several bifurcation issues. 

A state cabinet meeting is also expected to be held on Friday, which will discuss the issue.

"The Centre in its affidavit said that it had extended Rs 3,900 crore to fill the revenue deficit to the state, which had a deficit of Rs 16,000 crore when it was formed. The affidavit also mentioned that Rs 2,500 crore was given for the capital. The court was informed that the Centre gave Rs 1,000 crore for canals in Guntur and Vijayawada and Rs 1,500 crore for constructing capital and Rs 1,000 crore will be released soon according to the affidavit,’’ minister Kaluva Srinivasulu was quoted as saying.

In March this year, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Hyderabad High Court asking the court to direct the Centre to accord SCS to Andhra Pradesh, and implement the provisions of the AP Reorganization Act, 2014. 

TDP had pulled out from BJP led NDA alliance in March this year alleging that the Centre had not fulfilled promises made during bifurcation.

Five Lok Sabha MPs of the YSRCP had submitted their resignations on April 6 -- the last day of budget session -- to protest against the refusal of the Central government to accord special status.

The Speaker accepted the resignations of the MPs with effect from June 20.

‘Special category status’ is a classification given by the Centre to assist in development of those states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages like hilly terrains, strategic international borders, tribal population, economic and infrastructural backwardness and non-viable state finances.

During discussion on the AP Reorganization Bill, 2014, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured five years of SCS for the residual state of Andhra Pradesh, but the present BJP government has said that the provision was dropped by the 14th Finance Commission.

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