Modi promises early decision on special status to Andhra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that a decision will be taken without delay on according special category status to the state.

Naidu met the Prime Minister at his office in Parliament House complex to invite him for Krishna Pushkaram. They discussed various issues concerning the state, including the special status demand.

Later, Naidu told reporters that he made it clear to Modi that people will not be satisfied with anything other than the special status.

The Chief Minister said further delay on special status and other issues would not be good as this would give an opportunity to the opposition to take political advantage.

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, also conveyed to Modi that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement in the Rajya Sabha led to anxiety among people.

Jaitley had told Rajya Sabha last week that the government can't give special status to Andhra Pradesh but assured handholding until the state becomes economically stable.

Naidu was accompanied by central ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Y.S. Chowdary and several TDP MPs.

Before the meeting, Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu met the Prime Minister and discussed the issues concerning Andhra Pradesh.

Jaitley's statement in the Rajya Sabha had evoked sharp reaction from the TDP with Chandrababu Naidu asking the Modi government to fulfil all its commitments under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The TDP chief described special category status as a matter of life and death for the state. TDP MPs also staged protest in the Parliament House complex early this week, demanding early decision on the special status.

--IANS

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