NEW DELHI: Issues related to Andhra Pradesh dominated the Lok Sabha on Friday, with TDP MP Jayadev Galla opening the debate on party colleague K Srinivas’ no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
Expressing anguish over non-implementation of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act especially the special status, Galla slammed the Congress for bifurcating the state to create Telangana.The first-time Lok Sabha member from Guntur said his state did not get a fair share in distribution of resources, including the capital. “The BJP too made similar promises but never implemented them,” Galla said, reminding Modi of what he had promised during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign.
He also targeted Union minister Arun Jaitley for backtracking on the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh and justified Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu’s decision to break away from the ruling NDA. “
We are not asking to turn the clock back. We are only asking for justice,” he said. “The saga of Andhra Pradesh during the Modi and Shah regime is just that — a saga of empty promises and unfulfilled commitments by the Government of India to the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, a new State with an old name and a population of five crores.”
At the debate, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said he could sense the pain in the speech of Galla.“I heard the speech of Galla very carefully. I listened to everything which he said. In his speech, I sensed a certain anxiety. I sensed a deep feeling of pain, and I want to tell him from here that they are the victim of the 21st century political weapon, a very fantastic political weapon. I want to also tell him that he is not alone. There are many victims like him in this country,” he added.
Later, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge too supported the TDP MP’s demands and added that his party too was fighting for the cause of the southern state. “The BJP-led central government is following the divide and rule policy. We are supporting the TDP even if they don’t support us,” he asserted.
BJP MP jumps to defend party
Hari Babu Kambhampati, BJP MP from Andhra Pradesh, said the special category status does not guarantee industrial corridor. It will only give additional aid, he said, adding Delhi had given more than what special category status would guarantee.