Sonia Gandhi insists on special status for Andhra Pradesh

Sonia Gandhi, the All-India Congress Committee President has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Special Status to be ensured to the State of Andhra Pradesh.

On Thursday, in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi sought the attention of the Government on the implementation of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act in the letter dated June 22, 2014 where she requested for the commitments made to the people of Andhra Pradesh’s successor state are fulfilled in letter and spirit.

In her letter, Sonia Gandhi wrote that various investments and other commitments made by the Government of India have not been fulfilled even after eight months of division of Andhra Pradesh. On February 20, 2014, the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on the floor of the Rajya Sabha announced Special category status to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh which is not yet been secured.

Sonia Gandhi in her letter requested the Prime Minister to ensure that Special category status be given to the state immediately. Also, she reiterated the resolve to fulfill all these commitments in a time bound manner. Further, Sonia Gandhi urged that in the Budget proposals of the Government of India, adequate resources are to be provided. As far as Andhra Pradesh is concerned, Sonia Gandhi insisted to provide financial assistance to the state to overcome severe shortage of revenue along with support construction of capital.

She also mentioned that to enable implementation of the development package committed in the Act, adequate budget provisions need to be made to various Ministries of Government of India. In addition to that, to fulfill commitments relating to the Indian Railways, Sonia Gandhi wanted requisite allocations to be shown to the Railway Budget.