Congress leaders of Andhra Pradesh meet Manmohan Singh over special category issue

“During our meeting today, Manmohanji expressed concernover the non-implementation of the special category status andalso non-implementation of the factors incorporated in thestate bifurcation act,” Reddy told reporters after the meet. “He (Singh) also expressed his displeasure over dishonouring of the commitment made on the special status for the state during the UPA rule,” the APCC chief said, while alleging that “TDP and BJP have belittled the special status issue.”

Earlier, Manmohan Singh had made an appeal asking the Rajya Sabha to honour commitments made by him on February 20,2014 on the floor of the Upper House to grant Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. Rao said the referendum would begin from Tirupati as Modi, M Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had made a promise to grant special status during election rallies in 2014, but “now they have gone back on it.”

“So, we want to educate the people, the youth and public bodies and intellectuals, and therefore this referendum would also raise awareness about the issue. It will be held over a few months time,” he said, adding, “both TDP and BJP have deceived the people of Andhra Pradesh on the issue.” The Centre recently granted a financial package to Andhra Pradesh that includes full funding of Pollavaram irrigation project, tax concessions and a special assistance, but stopped short of giving the state a special category status.

“This package is fake and nothing new. It is part of the state reorganisation act and the Centre is making it out to be something special for the state,” Reddy alleged.