A day after the BJP termed TDP's demands for special package for Andhra Pradesh a propaganda and dished out figures of the financial assistance the Centre has provided to the State so far, its ally on Sunday said that while the national BJP was indulging in delaying tactics, the State BJP was now trying to usher in confusion by quoting irrelevant figures.
Speaking at a press conference in Amaravati, TDP MP Galla Jaydev said, "Do not confuse the general budget allocations with the special package. The State has been promised special provisions. The BJP is diverting the issue from the real issues. There is nothing special in releasing funds which are rightfully ours. They are avoiding talking about the 19 items which are still pending to be completed in full and the six assurances made by the then PM made in the Rajya Sabha while passing the Act."
"There are five items which we consider as priority for the State, including Polavaram, Amaravati, Budget Deficit, Special Package in lieu of special status and railway zone," he said. He added, " All parties, all MPs, even most BJP MPs, from Congress, NCP, TMC, BJD, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, TRS - all parties are supporting our demands.
The reason why there is such comprehensive support cutting across ruling party, alliance partners, neutral parties and opposition parties is because they have seen that our demands are genuine and justified and necessary for our state to recover financially after the severe negative impact of bifurcation, he asserted.
Andhra Pradesh TDP State party president Kala Venkat Rao, MP Ram Mohan Naidu and State Planning Board Vice Chairman Kutumaba Rao also interacted with the media on issues of budget allocation.