YSR Cong, TDP demand special category status for AP

The two main rival parties in Andhra Pradesh came together in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to demand special category status (SCS) for the state.

Participating in the discussion on Union Budget, Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Margani Bharat Ram of YSR Congress pitched for special category status, saying after creation of Telangana, much of Andhra Pradesh's resources have gone to the new state.

Ram said in 2014, Narendra Modi had promised that bifurcated Andhra Pradesh will be given special category status but it was yet to be fulfilled.

"I request you to sanction special category status to Andhra Pradesh without any delay," he said.

TDP MP Naidu also echoed similar views.

He also said that there were discrepencies in the Budget numbers.

Naidu alleged the Modi government is favouring Gujarat at the cost of other states.

"This government speaks of cooperative favouritism.. Gujarat has been favoured. If everything is going to Gujarat, then how we will compete with that state." he said.

Naidu said the Modi government's Make in India initiative has failed to create jobs.

Former union minister and BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said the Modi government has several achievements during the last five years.

Many governments had lost elections after launching the Goods and Services Tax (GST), but bucking the trends overseas, Modi government came back to power, Rathore said.

Varun Gandhi (BJP) said the government should try to make the Budget making process more consultative, citing the example of Brazilian city Porto Alegre.

Gandhi said the government should declare the national floor level minimum wage.

He also pitched for creation of National Employment Grid.