BJP members try to defend Centre

Amaravati: In the wake of strong criticism from TDP, BJP members tried to defend the Union government in Assembly on Tuesday by stating that the development in Andhra Pradesh was possible only because of support of the Union government.

BJP floor leader P Vishnukumar Raju tried to simplify the benefits of Special Category Status by stating that the only advantage of the SCS was that Central government gives 90 per cent of funs under it.

“Members in Assembly and people as well are under wrong impression that tax exemptions and some other benefits will be available to state if the Centre accords SCS to AP. SCS is exclusively confined to Centrally-sponsored schemes and projects,” he said.

He also said that though the Centre was ready to give funds and informed the state go form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to receive funds from NABARD or HUDCO, AP has not responded so far due to political reasons, he said. The BJP leader condemned the comments of TDP leaders that the AP was being developed without handholding from the Centre.

“The TDP is trying to create insecurity among people and provoking people against the BJP intentionally for its political gains. This attitude of TDP will finally affect the interests of state,” he said.

BJP MLA A Satyanarayana said the TDP government was propagating the Central schemes as its own by changing names. He objected the language being used by the TDP members in the Assembly to criticise Centre and BJP.