Union Minister for Urban Development, Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday claimed that the total assistance from the Centre for various projects and plans in Andhra Pradesh is around Rs 2.25 lakh crore.
At a lengthy media conference held in New Delhi, Venkaiah said the Centre had already started implementing schemes, projects and assistance to the extent of Rs 1.60 lakh crore and works worth another Rs 65 lakh are in pipeline.
He went on to explain how and when the Centre had been extending assistance to Andhra Pradesh.
“Everything is special for Andhra Pradesh – special focus, special treatment and special assistance. As such, there is nothing like special status requirement for the state,” Venkaiah said.
He said because of the measures being taken by the Centre, a large number of industries will come up in the state providing large scale employment.
“While the Act set a deadline of 10 years, we want to complete the projects and plans at the earliest, so that AP will get the level-playing field on par with other states,” he said.
Venkaiah expressed regrets that he was being targeted personally by certain political parties.
“Though I do not represent Andhra Pradesh in Parliament, I have been fighting for the rights of the Telugu people right from the beginning. Yet, I am being targeted,” he said.
