VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has claimed that the State may have progressed well had the Centre accorded special category status (SCS) to AP. “The responsibility of implementing the promises made by his predecessor in Parliament with regard to SCS lies on the present Prime Minister. As a political decision was taken, SCS should be accorded to the State,’’ he said, adding that SCS will ensure industrial revolution in the State.
During a meeting with the available ministers and heads of departments at the Interim Government Complex in Velagapudi on Wednesday, Naidu said despite non-cooperation from the Centre, the State has achieved double-digit growth.
Earlier in the day, during the teleconference with TDP MPs, the Chief Minister said that people of the State were of the belief that the injustice meted out to AP would be rectified soon as all political parties, except the BJP, have supported the demands of AP during the debate in the Rajya Sabha. “We have succeeded in garnering support of several parties and should take the fight ahead both in and outside Parliament,’’ he told the MPs.
Directing the MPs to continue their protests in front of the Gandhi statue on the premises of Parliament, he wanted them to raise the issues like Kadapa steel plant, Visakhapatnam railway zone and meagre allocation of funds to the capital city. The Chief Minister also directed the MPs to stage demonstrations at the offices of the respective Union ministries in New Delhi. Targeting YSRC chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Naidu said people would not believe leaders like Jagan.