K V P Ramachandra Rao for AP-TS council to spur development

New Delhi: Congress MP K V P Ramachandra Rao on Friday sought the constitution of AP-Telangana Council on the lines of the North Eastern States Council to help the States achieve development in every respect.

• Congress MP introduces a private member’s Bill seeking constitution of council on the lines of North Eastern States Council
• He is also critical of the BJP going back on its promise to implement every clause in the AP Reorganisation Act

Introducing a private member's Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Ramachandra Rao said the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 needed to be amended to grant immediately special category status to AP for 10 years.

The amendment must also make it mandatory on part of the Centre to meet the deficit revenue every year. A special package and special assistance to the backward areas of the State in Rayalaseema and North Coastal Regions must be included in this.

All tax incentives, industrial concessions and development programmes and infrastructure works must be given priority and implemented in AP, he said.

Pointing out that the AP Reorganisation Act provided taking appropriate fiscal measures including offer of all other incentives. He said the BJP government was not keeping its promise made on the floor of House in the past in implementing the promises made during bifurcation of AP.

Later, Ramachandra Rao, along with Jairam Ramesh, J D Seelam and T Subbirami Reddy, all MPs, met AICC general secretary and in-charge of the State, Digvijay Singh, to impress upon the high command the need to build pressure on the Centre to accord the special status to AP. They also discussed the upcoming dharna at Jantar Mantar in this regard being organised by the APCC.