N Chandrababu Naidu meets PM Narendra Modi, seeks special status for Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today raised with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the issue of special status to the state bifurcated two years back and pressed for implementation of the “promise” at the earliest. “...two years are over. This is the third budget. Now all that they (had) mentioned in the bifurcation act (Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act), it has to be implemented at the earliest,” Naidu told reporters after meeting Modi.

“And also they have to give special package, special status, every other thing to (help Andhra Pradesh) reach reasonable level at par with other southern states. That is what I requested,” he said.

Accusing the previous Congress-led UPA government of bifurcating the state in an “unscientific and haphazard” manner, Naidu said the Manmohan Singh regime meted out “injustice and humiliation” to the state resulting in Rs 35,000 to Rs 45000 plunge in its per capita income vis-vis other southern states.

“You (Centre) had announced at that time (while bringing the Reorganisation Bill) on the floor of the House that a special status... even in the bifurcation act they have mentioned some of the issues..Andhra Pradesh has to be helped for reaching level-playing field...till that time, Government of India has to hand-hold,” he said.

Naidu, who met the Prime Minister over drought situation, said he made a detailed presentation on the measures taken by his dispensation to overcome water scarcity including micro-irrigation, which he added, the Centre has taken “seriously”.

He said he made a presentation on adopting “holistic” approach to “overcome” the situation including conserving rainwater, linking rivers within a state and embracing micro-irrigation for efficient use of water.

He said they also discussed need for having “comprehensive” agriculture and allied planning like concentrating on horticulture, livestock and fisheries so that people will have more “mitigation approach”.

“...also we are happy that the Government of India has taken micro-irrigation very seriously. Our Prime Minister has done extremely well in Gujarat about micro-irrigation. Even now he has taken seriously on how to implement throughout the country,” he said.

Naidu welcomed the Centre’s decision a few months back to offer Rs 1500 per tonne as subsidy for using compost fertilizer than that of chemical.

“He (Modi) is discussing all these things. With these discussions, if he can create short-term, long-term planning for overall welfare of farmers, (it) will go a long way in overall welfare of farmers in the country,” Naidu added.