MODI JI …………….SILENCE MAY LEAD TO STORM

MODI JI …………….SILENCE MAY LEAD TO STORM

BJP joined hands with Congress and other parties in parliament and bifurcated AP, without proper debate and any serious commitments to the state losing huge revenues by loss of stake in Hyderabad. Sri. Venkaiah Naidu(VN) self proclaimed champion of AP, took credit for Manmohan ji statement of five year special status. Modi Ji in election meetings committed ten year special status and series of benefits if he is voted to power and acknowledged that injustice is done to AP. After elected to power there is no mention of it and further such commitments were made during Bihar, TN etc elections. We are yet to realise that election promises are like writings on water. WE REMAIN SILENT.

AP quickly reconciled to the fact and started working on new capital building and mooted an innovative concept of land pooling. World class capital city with integrated nine themes is planned and PM was invited as chief guest for foundation laying ceremony. Modi Ji blessed our dream city “AMARAVATHI” by bringing water & soil from Delhi, but remind non committal on funding for the new city.  WE REMAIN SILENT.

VN continue to take credit for sanction of IIT, IIM, IIIT, AIIMS, NIFT, PU, TU, CIPET, etc, by projecting that these are sanctioned to AP as a special case. We knew that these institutions are there in most of the states and nothing special about its sanction to AP. Sincere efforts & commitment from VN in getting the funding on priority basis is are expected and the reality is far from expectations. National status to Polavaram, steel plant at kadapa, new ports, coastal corridor etc are promised , but few are committed and on others no commitment.WE REMAIN SILENT.

Initially the previous party in power was blamed for loosely drafted reorganization bill, non inclusion of special status in the bill and later the blame was shifted to Neeti Ayog, 14th finance commission etc. VN with his tongue power continue to twist the facts to his advantage.  We knew that it is the government who made the promise in parliament not the party in power, if government is sincere in fulfilling its commitments no one including the courts will come in its way.  WE REMAIN SILENT.

At last the silence on special status was broken and stated that spl status is not not possible and instead special package which is claimed as better than spl package is announced. As usual VN took credit for the same and felicitations were arranged by party men all over the state. There are serious doubts about cap on polavaram & capital city funding, lack of clarity on external funded projects, time frame of 5 years not 10 years as promised, legal sanctity to the package  etc. We knew that spl package will never be better than spl status.  WE REMAIN SILENT.  

Almost six months passed after announcement of special package. Finance minister committed for faster release of funds and time bound completion of projects. Be it educational institutions, capital, Polavaram it looks like they are progressing at snail speed and the hype created is simmering. Polavaram is making rounds between state-center- NABARD & no clarity on funding limits. Similarly the capital city funding is having mismatch with state expectations. It is expected to bring in clarity in already announced special status and place it as a bill in parliament and get it approved. Winter sessions are in midway and there are no signs of bill and to our surprise VN/FM are not even mentioning about the same. If it is not approved in bill form what will be the legal sanctity? Like the present Government blamed previous one, the newly elected government in 2019 may do the same? WE STILL REMAIN SILENT.

2 ½ years time passed after electing the new Government, still we are debating on state reorganisation bill. With the announcement of 9 out of 10 Telangana districts as against 6 out of 13 from AP as backward ,  we are really confused about the special treatment given to AP for its losses due to bifurcation. It is expected from GOI to give clarity on what is given to AP in addition to normal funding (like it is giving to other states) to compensate for its losses in revenue from Hyderabad.

YOU STILL EXPECT US TO BE SILENT?  WE ARE KNOWN FOR HARD WORK AND HOSPITALITY. BEING A PREDOMINANT AGRARIAN SOCIETY, WE BELIEVE IN GIVING NOT ASKING. CERTAINLY WE WILL NOT KEEP QUIET IF OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS INTERESTS ARE PUT TO STAKE.

B Guruva Reddy

grbonthu@gmail.com, 9866889246