The issues of disbursal of financial help to the newly-created Andhra Pradesh under the special category status and creation of a separate High Court in Telangana were raised in both the Houses of Parliament, with the Centre assuring the members on both counts.
Congress raised a din in Rajya Sabha and some of its MPs repeatedly trooped into the well demanding the speedy disbursal of financial help to the newly created Andhra Pradesh under the special category status. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured the agitating members that the Centre will fulfill all commitments in “letter and spirit.”
The issue was raised in lok Sabha by Congress and TRS members with Parliamentary affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu listing out “the promises” fulfilled by the BJP Government in regards to Andhra Pradesh. In reference to creation of a separate High Court in Telangana, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said appropriate action was being taken on the issue.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said two years before when the State of Telengana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh, the biggest issue among the two was of Capital Hyderabad.
Hyderabad went to Telangana, leading to a revenue loss to Andhra Pradesh, he said, adding that then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on the floor of Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014 announced measures to mitigate the hardship of Andhra Pradesh including formation of new Capital. Some Congress members including J D Seelam, Renuka Chowdhury and K V P Ramachandra Rao trooped into the Well raising slogans and demanding reply from the Government.
Azad said Andhra Pradesh was given special status for five years adding BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu and then leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley had demanded ten year period under the special category for the new State. He wanted to know from the Government the fate of special category.
In his response, Jaitley said Centre is fully committed to help Andhra Pradesh. There are several commitments which are involved in the AP Reorganisation Act. Centre is going to honour each one of those commitments in “letter and spirit,” the Finance Minister said. Referring to the revenue deficit, Jaitley said “each paisa or rupee of this revenue deficit is being paid to Andhra Pradesh...We will continue to pay that.”
He said institutions have to be set up in Andhra Pradesh and foundation stones were laid and funds sanctioned. On the issue of new Capital, Jaitley said the State is making considerable “headway” towards it and funds were sanctioned adding more would be released towards it, he added.
However, the agitating Congress remained unsatisfied and kept raising slogans.
Taking potshot at Congress, C M Ramesh (TDP) said the main Opposition party was indulging in “drama” for political mileage. “After two years they (Congress) realised that State’s bifurcation was wrong...,” he said, adding the party was wiped out from AP in the elections held after the bifurcation.