Andhra Pradesh seems to be heading towards a new round of political turbulence and the N Chandrababu Naidu regime was finding itself in the line of Opposition’s fire after the Centre categorically ruled out Special Category Status for the State.
Following Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s late Wednesday night announcement of a Special Package for Andhra Pradesh for five years (2015-20) in place of the demanded SCS, the Opposition parties including YSR Congress Party have called for a State-wide shut down on Saturday. Other opposition parties including Congress and the left have also announced support to the strike. “Special Category status is the right of Andhra people and there can not be any compromise on it”, leader of opposition in the State Assembly YS Jaganmohan Reddy said.
In almost identical statement Chief Minister Naidu said that there cannot be any compromise on special category status demand.
The issue also rocked the AP legislative Assembly on Thursday in Hyderabad on the first day of the monsoon session as the opposition YSRCP members stalled the proceedings forcing the Speaker Kodella Siva Prasad Rao to adjourn the House twice and finally adjourning it for the day without transacting any business.
Chief Minister Naidu, who held one more round of consultations with his ministerial colleagues on Thursday, said that it will be very good if the Center grants the Special Category Status to the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh. “But if due to some technical reasons it is not possible, then the Center should extend the monetary benefits similar to the SCS”, he told the media while commenting on the special package of Jaitely.
later speaking in the legislative Council Naidu said that there was no question of his compromising on the issue of Special Category Status to the State.
“To protect the interest of the State I am ready to go to any extent. I have never compromised on any issue in my life”, he said.
Naidu recalled that he has been demanding the Center to give special category status to Andhra Pradesh and solve all the problems which arose out of the bifurcation of the State. “I have been demanding that the Center should fulfill all the commitments made in the State Reorganization Act and also the promises made by the Prime Minister at the time”, he said.
Referring to the package announced by Arun Jaitely last night, Naidu noted his commitment to fully take care of the State which was lagging behind in revenue and other spheres.
On Polavaram, Naidu said that because of his pressure the Center has now agreed to bear the 100% cost of the project against the earlier commitment of only 70%. The Union Finance Minister has also announced that the money spent by the State Government on Polavaram since 2014 will also be reimbursed by the Centre. If the sufficient funds were made available, the Polavaram project will be completed by 2018, he added.
For building the new capital Amarvati, the Center has already released Rs2500 crore and promised to release another 1,000 crore. “But this is not sufficient. Center should provide funds more liberally”, Naidu said.
Pointing out that the people of Andhra Pradesh, humiliated by the bifurcation of the State, had a very strong desire for the Special Category Status, Naidu demanded that the Center should take the steps to fulfill this aspiration.
The Chief Minister wanted the Center to extend help to AP generously till it comes up to the level of the neighboring States.
As Arun Jaitely left the issue of setting up Railway Zone in Visakhapatanam to the Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, protests started in North coastal Andhra Pradesh. TDP MP from Anakapally A Srinivas sat on hunger strike near Gandhi Statue. “if our demand is not met I will stay away from the Parliament for the remaining period of my tenure”, he said.
PROTEST IN ASSEMBlY
YSCRP members, clad in black shirts and sarees, led by YS Jaganmohan Reddy entered the Assembly 20 minutes after the session started and directly rushed to the podium of the Speaker protesting against the failure of Chief Minister Naidu in securing the SCS.
The repeated pleas from the Speaker Sivaprasad Rao and minister for finance Y Ramakrishnudu to restore the order in the House, who also expressed Government’s willingness for a statement on the issue did not have any effect.
The YSRCP members shouted slogans and brandished placards with the slogans of “No compromise on the Special Category Status” and “It is our right”.
“When the Chief Minister has himself welcomed the special package what is there to discuss”, Jaganmohan Reddy asked. He demanded that the there should be a discussion in the House before the Chief Minister makes a statement.
Chatting with the media persons in the Assembly lobby Jaganmohan Reddy demanded that Naidu should tender an apology to the people for welcoming the package.
“The time has come for the Telugu Desam to withdraw its ministers from the NDA Government at the Center”, Jagan said adding that if the SCS was not given, Andhra Pradesh will not be able to develop and progress.
“Having demanded SCS, how Naidu can accept the package”, he asked.
Amid the noisy scenes the Chief Minister introduced the Goods and Service Tax bill and it was passed by the House even as the opposition members continued their protest.
PAWAN KAlYAN FACTOR
That the exercise to give a package to AP was going on for some time but it gained momentum and was announced in hurry was also being attributed to the factor of film star turned politician Pawan Kalyan.
The “Power Star”, as Kalyan is known, had floated his party Jana Sena but campaigned for the TDP-BJP alliance in 2014 general elections and addressed election meetings with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But of late he has turned sharply critical of both the TDP and the BJP for their failure in fulfilling their promise of special category status.
The package was announced just a couple of days before the film star was to address a massive public meeting in Kakinada in East Godavari district on Friday. The show of strength called “Aatma Gaurava Sabha” (Self Respect Meeting) was aimed at putting pressure on the Modi Government at the Ceenter to accept the demand for SCS, said a senior leader of Jana Sena.
Andhra Pradesh BJP leader worried over the possible fall out of Pawan Kalyan’s stand, have heaved a sigh of relief that the announcement of the package will be a face saver for them.