Chandrababu Naidu says he is fighting with Centre for special status every day

Vijayawada, July 20: Saying that he was at the "receiving end", Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu tonight said he was sad that the Centre was still not acting favourably towards Andhra Pradesh.

Asked if he was confident or hopeful that the Centre would grant special category status to AP, he said, "I wish it comes. I am trying and fighting continuously. Simultaneously, I am doing what I am supposed to do to develop the state."

"I am fighting everyday with them....The Centre is not doing what is incorporated in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014," Chandrababu said at a press conference here. The Congress was trying to politicise the issue, he said.

He was replying to the question if the Telugu Desam Party would vote for a private member's bill moved by Congress MP K V P Ramachandra Rao seeking special category status for AP.

"Is not the Congress to be blamed for the current situation? Why is it playing a game now without incorporating the special category status provision in the (Reorganisation) Act," Chandrababu asked, adding "has a private member's bill ever become an act in the history?".

The CM, however, hastened to add that TDP MPs would do the needful (on the bill coming up for vote on July 22). As to why the Centre was not even responding to the resolution passed by the AP Assembly seeking a special status, Naidu said, "You ask the Government of India."

PTI