After landing in an embarrassing situation over promising special category status to Puducherry Union territory, Bharatiya Janata Party has shot back at its critics who questioned why it had denied similar special status to Andhra Pradesh.
Rajya Sabha member Y S Chowdary alias Sujana Chowdary, who defected from the Telugu Desam Party to the BJP soon after the 2019 general elections, strongly defended the BJP’s decision not to give special category status to AP.
“The special category status has become a political issue for the YSR Congress party and the TDP for their selfish political interests and are slinging mud at the Bharatiya Janata party stating that it has promised special status to Puducherry,” he said.
Reiterating that special category status is a closed chapter, Sujana said even if Chandrababu Naidu became the prime minister of the country, he won’t be able to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
He reminded that the Centre had given more than what was due to the state on account of AP Reorganisation Act.
“The finance commission has clearly mentioned that no new state or union territory would be given special category status. So, there is no such chance to any other state or the UT,” he said.
BJP Andhra Pradesh unit president Somu Veerraju also made it clear that the promise of special category status to Puducherry cannot be compared with the demand in AP.
“Puducherry is a very small union territory, not a state. The Central government will anyway have to spend money on Puducherry. It is promising more funds,” Veerraju said.
