TRS MP Kavitha: Centre giving special treatment to AP, ignoring Telangana

Hyderabad: NDA government is giving special treatment to Andhra Pradesh because the ruling TDP is an ally at the Centre, claimed TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha. She said Telangana should be dealt in similar fashion and its people should not be ignored.

The Centre earlier this month announced Rs 2.25 lakh crore financial package to Andhra Pradesh, whose government had been demanding special category status to the state.

"Andhra is certainly getting a special treatment because they are part and parcel of government and their ministers have been constantly trying to get new projects into Andhra", the Lok Sabha member from Nizamabad in Telangana said.

"But we (Telangana) will certainly fight for our own ground, and whatever is written in the Bifurcation Act, I am sure Telangana will also get it. Basically, it's the responsibility of the central government to treat both states alike. Just because they (the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh) are political allies they can't give them special treatment and ignore people of Telangana", Kavitha said.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had recently said, "Financial assistance announced by the Centre to Andhra Pradesh (for various projects), sanctioned and underway, will be worth Rs 2.25 lakh crore. The state will benefit from this special package more than the special status".

Naidu had also said as per the terms of the 14th Finance Commission, special status can no longer be granted.

Responding to questions, Kavitha said she believed special category status certainly would have had more benefits, not in terms of finances only but attracting investment in future also.

"What the central government has given (to AP), various projects...grants or grants-in-aid, but what about attracting investment?" Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, asked, noting that companies go to Himachal Pradesh because of certain advantages it enjoys due to special category status.