Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said in the lok Sabha that the Union Government is moving toward granting special status to Andhra Pradesh. Jaitley’ statement came amidst continued uproar in lok Sabha over the issue. “We are at a fairly advanced stage in discussions with the AP CM and will shortly arrive at a solution,” Jaitley said while making a brief intervention in lok Sabha to calm down agitating YSR Congress members. The Minister also said, at the time of division of the State, the issue of revenue and finances has been “unfair” to Andhra Pradesh, which has to be “compensated”.
Jaitley’s remarks came after YSR Congress leader Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy raised the issue saying that former PM Manmohan Singh had promised special category status to Andhra Pradesh. “The leaders of the then Opposition party (the BJP) Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu had pitched for 10 years for special category status to the State,” Reddy said. Reddy reminded BJP of its poll promises during which several party leaders promised special category status to Andhra Pradesh and it was even included in the manifestos of both BJP and TDP. He added that now instead of special status to the State, the BJP is talking of a special package for it.
“But injustice is being done to 5 crore people of AP,” Reddy said, “If they are not fulfilling the promises, what is the sanctity of the GovernmentIJ It is our right to protest against the lapses of the Government,” he said as YSR Congress party MPs also protested in the Well. This was the sixth consecutive day when members of YSR Congress shouted slogans, holding placards, and trooped into the Well demanding special category status for Andhra. They refused to oblige Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who continuously urged them to return to their seats and not display the banners.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the PM should come to the House and assure the agitating members like his predecessor Manmohan Singh had assured special category status for Andhra Pradesh, the Speaker rejected the demand saying “every now and then” it was “not necessary” to call the PM as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has already made a statement on the issue.
Rammohan Naidu (TDP), while participating in the Zero Hour debate, said every district of Andhra Pradesh was getting a meagre Rs 50 crore per year, and this amount was "peanuts and pumpkins". He added that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the Centre is to provide special package for Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh in a way similar to that extended to Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and KBK disticts of Odisha.