Turning the tables on BJP, Telugu Desam asked the BJP state and central leadership to make public the details of the funds released to Andhra Pradesh in the past 23 months. Party MLC and spokesperson Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu questioned authenticity of the Rs one lakh crore amount, which the BJP claims, that centre has released Andhra Pradesh. Dismissing the figures of central funds as frivolous Naidu asked the BJP leaders to stop reeling out baseless statistics and release a paper on the details of the one lakh crore. He said chief minister Naidu had been demanding special status whenever he had met central ministers.
Of late state BJP leaders, who are not interested in special category status to Andhra Pradesh started campaign on the funds released by the centre. First Purandeswari demanded the state government to show accounts for the amount spent on Polavaram Project. With TDP intensifying the campaign that centre has not given adequate grant to bridge the revenue deficit and meet capital construction cost, Rajahmundry MLA Akula Satayanarayana demanded a white paper from the state on the devolution funds from the centre and the details of the works on which the central funds spent. When the war of words on central funding was at its peak, BJP National president Amit Shah added new twist to the raging controversy. During his visit to Rajahnudry, Amit Shah said rubbished misinformation campaign launched by ‘some people’ about the quantum of central assistance given to AP. In a public meeting, on March 11, Shah said, ” since Narendramodi assumed office as Prime Minister , the NDA government had released funds to the tune of Rs 1.40 lakh crore.
” The way Shah recited the figures, it appears he had come well prepared with facts and figures. According to Shah, Rs 65,000 crore had been given for the development of National Highways in the state. Among other allocations are Rs 22,000 crore of an Industrial Park, Rs 3650 crore for setting up Naval Air Station at Vizianagaram, Rs 3266 for missile manufacturing station, Rs 3000 crore for Kribhco fertilizer plant etc etc.
After Shah’s visit, one lakh crore assistance from the centre has become weapon in the hands of State BJP leaders. They launched blitzkrieg against TDP in social media as well. This provoked the TDP MLC to demand a complete report on the funds released by the centre in the past 23 months before asking for accounts for expenditure.
Though the controversy kicked up a lot of dust, there has been no clarity on the amount centre released and state spent. People need more clarity.
