Congress: Modi's Andhra Initiatives a Step in the Right Direction, But Grant Special Status for True Commitment
Party Calls Out BJP for Failing to Deliver on Promise Made in 2014
The Congress stated on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to provide Andhra Pradesh special category status—as promised by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha in February 2014—will show the country's true commitment to the region.
Prime Minister Modi opened an AIIMS in Mangalagiri and an IIT in Tirupati last week, according to Congress national secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh.
"The Manmohan Singh administration pledged support for both of these establishments in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014." Naturally, Mr. Modi is taking credit today," he said.
According to Ramesh, the prime minister would show his "real commitment" to Andhra Pradesh if he granted the state special category status, as Manmohan Singh had promised on the Rajya Sabha floor on February 20, 2014, in order to improve the state's financial standing.
"Then-BJP front-bencher M. Venkaiah Naidu stood up and said, '[W]hy just five years?' Dr. Manmohan Singh had committed to this Special Status for a term of five years. The BJP administration would provide for ten years," he recalled.
"Both Mr. Naidu and Mr. Modi have a lot to answer for," Ramesh said.
