Union Minister Piyush Goyal had revealed a letter in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accepted the special package offered by the centre, instead of special status to Andhra Pradesh.
As per the letter, Naidu sought Rs. 3500 crores yearly to the state, and a total of Rs. 17500 crores for five years. This letter is now troubling the TDP circles as Chandrababu Naidu recently fought against the Centre for the special status.
Naidu tried to blame BJP at the centre and YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, for non-cooperation regarding the special status. But the Railways minister Goyal revealed that how Naidu allegedly tried to ditch the state, for his political benefits.
Goyal unveiled the BJP election manifesto in AP and promised to set up a permanent High Court in Rayalaseema, constitute a SIT to probe ‘irregularities’ during the TDP rule and restore lands to the farmers who had given them to Amaravati if it comes to power.
Not stopping there, the minister also revealed a letter written by the Finance Secretary of AP, detailing the cost estimates of the projects proposed under the special package.
He said that AP’s revenue deficit was calculated assuming that it would bear 40% of the cost of central schemes, instead of 10 percent. This amounted to Rs 22,113 crore, he noted. “Had it been calculated with 10 percent as base, the revenue deficit for 2015-20 would have been reduced to Rs 5,528 crore.
Adding to it, Goyal said that, the Centre also agreed to give sepcial package as sought by the TDP government. Even after receiving the double benefit, Naidu is now misleading the public for his political benefits.
Goyal further revealed that Naidu’s government did not provide the information about Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada metro projects, even when the Centre asked about it. The Union minister also challenged that Naidu to debate with him, on all the issues. He alleged that Naidu’s family has no leadership, talent or the support of the people. Goyal further assured a corrupt free governance and so asked to vote for BJP.