Yanamala accuses TS of double standards

As TS is questioning the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the State has to fight for its rights

• The Finance Minister reacts to the objections expressed by the TS to transfer of Rs 1,274 cr by RBI to I-T department towards tax to be paid by AP Beverages
• TS Minister K T Rama Rao even complained to Arun Jaitley against transfer
• Yanamala questions how TS could take possession of undivided institutions

Hyderabad: AP Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu faulted the Telangana State government for blowing hot and cold by not adhering to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, and the laws. The minister’s reaction came on the stand taken by the Telangana government against the backdrop of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) transferring Rs 1,274 crore from the TS government account towards payment of Income Tax dues, of the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited (APBCL).

Against the transfer of funds, the TS government had approached the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, demanding to direct the RBI, to return the money, arguing that the APBCL was listed in the Schedule IX of the AP Reorganisation Act and not yet bifurcated.

Speaking to The Hans India, he said that this was how the TS has been changing its stand on the norms relating to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. “Every government should follow the laws. But, when it sees something unfavourable to it, the TS has been taking one stand. And, when a decision suits it, it does not bother whether the institutions were bifurcated or not, as per the Act,” minister pointed out.

It was against taking multiple stands on various provisions listed in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, by the Telangana State, that the Andhra Pradesh has to fight for its right, whether it was on the issue of common capital, implementation of the provisions under Section 8, and the like, he added. Because, the unilateral decisions of the TS in regard to the yet-to-be bifurcated institutions, and different stands it has been taking were causing troubles to the State.

“Even it was not ready to extend services from the common institutions, despite the APPA provides for it,” he opined. Earlier, during his meeting with Arun Jaitley, TS IT Minister K T Ramarao had expressed that the RBI might have waited till the APBCL has been bifurcated by the Sheela Bhide Committee, or it should have recovered the said IT dues on 52:48 ratio, from both AP and TS.

Against this stand, the TS Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma had directed the officials that all Schedule X institutions located in Telangana belong to Telangana as per the APPA, and ensure that the funds in the bank accounts were not transferred to the AP.