CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy took part in the NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi on Saturday. He took this opportunity to convey that Andhra Pradesh has got every right to obtain Special Category Status as per the promise offered in Parliament at the time of bifurcation.
Chief Minister recalled BJP included Special Category Status for AP in it's manifesto for 2014 Elections and Union Cabinet approving it. He made it clear that Special Category Status wasn't scrapped while presenting the letter of Planning Commission member Abhijeet Sen.
Jagan: 'Severe injustice happened to AP with bifurcation. Only 47 percent income was offered to the state with 59 percent population. AP ended up being solely dependent on Agriculture with IT-Hub Hyderabad falling in Telangana territory. While the debt was Rs 97,000 crore at the time of bifurcation, It went up to Rs 2.59 lakh crore in the past five years. This led to a burden of Rs 40,000 crore per year on the state. Youth has been migrating to other states in search of employment opportunities. 14th Finance Commission hasn't opposed Special Status. There was no hurdle what-so-ever until NITI Aayog was established on January 1st, 2015. Only Special Status could help the state recover from the crisis. With Special Status, Grant-in-Aid for AP will be increasing. Industrial Incentives and Tax Incentives will create employment opportunities and boosts the revenue'.
Regarding the demands from other states if AP is accorded Special Status, CM recalled: 'When SPS was promised in the Parliament by then PM Manmohan Singh, Representatives of all the states in the country were in the House. So, I appeal the present Prime Minister to show his big heart by fulfilling the promise'.
Chief Minister recalled BJP included Special Category Status for AP in it's manifesto for 2014 Elections and Union Cabinet approving it. He made it clear that Special Category Status wasn't scrapped while presenting the letter of Planning Commission member Abhijeet Sen.
Jagan: 'Severe injustice happened to AP with bifurcation. Only 47 percent income was offered to the state with 59 percent population. AP ended up being solely dependent on Agriculture with IT-Hub Hyderabad falling in Telangana territory. While the debt was Rs 97,000 crore at the time of bifurcation, It went up to Rs 2.59 lakh crore in the past five years. This led to a burden of Rs 40,000 crore per year on the state. Youth has been migrating to other states in search of employment opportunities. 14th Finance Commission hasn't opposed Special Status. There was no hurdle what-so-ever until NITI Aayog was established on January 1st, 2015. Only Special Status could help the state recover from the crisis. With Special Status, Grant-in-Aid for AP will be increasing. Industrial Incentives and Tax Incentives will create employment opportunities and boosts the revenue'.
Regarding the demands from other states if AP is accorded Special Status, CM recalled: 'When SPS was promised in the Parliament by then PM Manmohan Singh, Representatives of all the states in the country were in the House. So, I appeal the present Prime Minister to show his big heart by fulfilling the promise'.