Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been maintaining stoic silence over the demand for special category status to Andhra Pradesh, finally broke its silence on Friday and declared that there was no need for any special status to the state.
BJP national general secretary and in-charge of AP affairs Siddharth Nath Singh told media in Vijayawada that the Centre would give more than what AP was hoping to get through special status.
“There are certain Constitutional hitches in granting special status to the state. So, at least for now, it not possible to concede the demand. But, the Centre will give more than what AP is due to get through special status,” he said.
For instance, Singh said, the Centre would provide 100 per cent funding for completion of Polavaram project.
“If it is declared as national project, the Centre would give 70 per cent funds and the rest would have to be borne by the State. Now, we are committed to provide 100 per cent funding to Polavaram. Is it not better than special status?” he asked.
Stating that AP always had special status in the eyes of the Centre, Singh said the Centre would implement in letter and spirit all the promises made under the AP Reorganisation Act.
At the same time, he demanded that the State should come out with a white paper on the funds released by the Centre to the state and the expenditure made by the State.
