Sonia Gandhi writes to PM for special status to Andhra

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that special category status is granted to Andhra Pradesh immediately.

In her letter, copies of which were shared with the media Friday by the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Congress party, she urged the prime minister to provide financial assistance to the state and support the construction of the state capital.

She said even after eight months of the division of Andhra Pradesh, the commitments made to the people of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh were not fulfilled.

Gandhi also drew Modi's attention to her earlier letter dated June 22, 2014 on the implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. She had written it for ensuring that all commitments made to the people of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh are fulfilled in letter and spirit.

"Even after eight months of division of Andhra Pradesh, many of the investment and other commitments made by the Government of India have not been fulfilled. Special category status announced to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, by the then prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the floor of the Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014 is (has) not yet been secured," she wrote.

She said the resolve to fulfil all these commitments in a time-bound manner should be conveyed in the special address of the President to both the Houses of Parliament at the commencement of the budget session.

Gandhi also urged "to ensure that adequate resources are provided in the budget proposals of the Government of India, to provide financial assistance to the Government of Andhra Pradesh to overcome severe shortage of revenue and support construction of capital".

"Adequate budget provisions need to be made to various Ministries of Government of India to enable implementation of the development package committed in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2013," she added.

Gandhi also urged the prime minister to make requisite allocations in the railway budget to fulfil the commitments relating to the Indian Railways.