Union Budget 2016: Chandrababu says AP didn't get its due

Vijayawada, March 1: Lamenting that adequate financial allocations were not made to Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, March 1 said he has conveyed the "sentiments" of the people to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

He, however, praised the overall budget saying it was "balanced" with focus on rural and agricultural development.

"We didn't get our due from the Centre. I told this to Jaitley and reminded him that it is the Centre's responsibility to rescue the state, given the troubles it has been facing due to the bifurcation. Jaitley told me that he was aware of the situation and said the allocations (in the budget) were only department-specific," Chandrababu said.

He was addressing the TDP's rank and file at its general body meeting here today. "I met the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister in New Delhi recently and explained the state's critical financial position. I told them it was the Centre's responsibility to fulfil all the promises made during the state bifurcation. The Centre should support us (financially) till we grow on par with neighbouring states. But still we were not granted our due (in the Budget)," the CM rued.

Chandrababu said he reiterated his request for granting special category status to AP and also establishing a new railway zone with Visakhapatnam as the headquarters.

"There has been no mention about these either in the Railway Budget or the Union Budget," he lamented. "After speaking to Jaitley this morning, I am hopeful the Centre will do something," he said. The Chief Minister said that despite all the problems, his government was taking every step to overcome each hurdle and lead the state on the path to progress.

TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh, AP unit president K Kala Venkata Rao, Telangana president L Ramana, ministers and other leaders attended the meeting.

PTI