Despite repeated assertion by the Central government that the special category status to Andhra Pradesh is a closed chapter, the YSR Congress party has been trying to make the same demand again and again whenever there is an opportunity.
On Monday, YSRC general secretary and MP V Vijay Sai Reddy raised the demand for special category status again in Rajya Sabha, while speaking on the Motion of Thanks to Presidential address to the parliament.
Sai Reddy alleged that the Centre was telling the same lame excuses on the demand for special category issue.
He said the YSRC would not give up the demand, as it had come to power based on the special category status plank.
He wondered why a BJP-ruled state like Uttarakhand was given the special category status despite the fact that it was not there in the reorganisation act.
“Why is this discrimination between the BJP and non-BJP ruled states?” he asked.
Sai Reddy found fault with the previous Telugu Desam Party government for compromising on the special status and agreeing for a special financial package.
“The reasons given by the Centre for denying the special status have no merit. If other states like Bihar and Odisha also demand, then the Centre should first grant the status to AP and then give the same to the other states,” he said.
The YSRC leader also criticised the centre for imposing restrictions on borrowings.
He said it was not justified on the part of the Centre to fix a cap on loans being taken by the present government just because the previous TDP government borrowed loans beyond the permissible limits.