VIJAYAWADA: Utilising the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting as a platform to raise issues concerning the state, particularly the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act provisions, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said a ‘supportive environment and facilitation by the government of India will go a long way to provide a concrete shape to spirit of cooperative federalism’. He stressed that the centre should provide macro strategy and should not micromanage the schemes as is currently being done.
“The states should be empowered with funds and freedom to implement schemes,’’ Naidu said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi listened with rapt attention to Naidu’s speech, which was interspersed with statistical data. It is learnt that after seven minutes of Naidu’s speech, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tried to intervene and ask Naidu to wrap up his speech but the CM made it clear that he needed more time to raise important issues pertaining to the state.
Contrary to reports that Naidu might confront the centre in the meeting, his speech was more statesman-like in raising the issues on Special Category Status (SCS) and central funding to the state’s infrastructure projects, besides offering a perspective on centre-state relations.
Stating that the people of AP did not ask for bifurcation and that it was done in an unscientific and unjust manner, Naidu said they were suffering, hurt and sentimental about the loss and subsequent neglect. He said the assurances of the then PM on the floor of Rajya Sabha, CAG reports and advice of the Supreme Court were not being honoured.
Taking on the NDA government on the special category status issue, Naidu said the centre had attempted to mislead the people of India by announcing special assistance on the pretext that the 14th Finance Commission had done away with SCS. He pointed out that the election manifesto of the BJP for AP assured the special status for ten years. “The people of AP feel resentful due to the breach of promises made to its people,’’ Naidu asserted.
Regarding Polavaram, Naidu said that more than 56 per cent of the project was completed and the Detailed Project Report-II should be approved and pending amount of Rs 1,892 crore should be reimbursed by the centre.
He said that though the centre had sanctioned nine educational institutions in the state, it allocated only Rs. 638 crore so far, as against the project cost of Rs. 11,673 crore. He also brought to attention that a separate railway zone was still pending, there was no move on increasing seats in the AP Legislative Assembly and the construction of a steel plant in YSR Kadapa district.
Issues of national importance pointed out by Naidu:
Amendment to terms of reference of 15th Finance Commission.
Adequate care not taken in rolling out and implementing demonetisation.
Benefits of falling global prices of crude oil not passed on to people.
MSP not fixed in tune with Dr MS Swaminathan recommendations model.