Ahead of the beginning of the Parliament Budget Session on Friday, the APCC chief YS Sharmila Reddy in an open letter has asked Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that special status be insisted on in the Parliament. She said that the status is the lifeline for the development of the state and it is key for the creation of wealth.
She said that AP is in debt and no new debts are being created, but wealth should be created for the development of the state. She said that wealth creation will happen with the special status itself. She cautioned that the state should not beg for funds for development programs.
Sharmila said that if the special status is granted, the center will have to provide 30 percent of the funds to the state. She said that it is not necessary to go around Davos for investments in the state, but the companies should queue up for the state with the special status. She said that there are huge subsidies for industries and 100 percent exemption from excise duty once special status is accorded.
The APCC chief said that with 100 percent income tax subsidies, industries will also come to the state with wings, and this will create lakhs of jobs. She said that the prices of all goods will come down with tax subsidies and electricity will be distributed at half the price.
If so many benefits are possible with the status, then if Andhra Pradesh, which has a thousand kilometers of coastline, has a special status, then how much development it will have is beyond words, she added. She also advised the Chief Minister that TDP should withdraw its support to the Narendra Modi-led government, if special status is not given.
Sharmila wondered why there was a problem in asking for special status for the state when the Chief Minister had the opportunity to play a big brother role in the center. She said that Chandrababu Naidu should demand the Prime Minister to fulfill bifurcation promises immediately and reminded that the survival of the Modi government depends upon his support.
She also suggested that the coalition MPs should raise their voices in the budget sessions of the Parliament and Prime Minister Modi should be held accountable for his promise of giving the special status for ten years. Otherwise, YS Sharmila warned that he will once again be made a traitor in front of the people of the state.