In Letter, Rahul Gandhi Reminds PM Modi of Promises Made to Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi: Three days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Andhra Pradesh for the inauguration of its new capital Amaravati, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has written to him asking the PM to grant the state "special category status."

Special status, says Mr Gandhi in his letter, was a promise made by PM Modi's predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh for the downsized state after Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to create new state Telangana last year. PM Modi, he says, must honour that and other promises that the Congress-led UPA had made to the state through the Act that endorsed the division of the state.

"During the process of reorganistion, one of the major concerns of the people of Andhra Pradesh was the economic viability of their state. To address these concerns, the UPA government was careful to include a comprehensive development package for Andhra Pradesh within the Act itself," writes Mr Gandhi, one of the Prime Minister's most vocal critics, in his letter. He says he has visited Andhra Pradesh twice in the last year and "could sense the severe disappointment and pain due to the centre's failure to honour its commitments."

His mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had earlier this year made a rare speech in Parliament accusing the government of "apathy" towards Andhra Pradesh.

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Special category status grants a state benefits when resources are being allocated by the planning commission. When it accepted a long-standing demand for a separate Telangana state, the ruling Congress also had to factor in the anger and worry of the residual Andhra Pradesh that the most resource-rich portion would now be another state.

Despite its promise of a comprehensive development package for the downsized Andhra Pradesh, the Congress was punished by the state in assembly and national elections held together last year. It was voted out of power and the state elected Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, which partners the BJP.

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Mr Naidu has planned a grand ceremony on Thursday to lay the foundation of a new capital for Andhra Pradesh, which temporarily shares Hyderabad as a capital with Telangana.

Mr Gandhi referenced the function asking the PM to "use this opportunity" to fulfill promises made to the state at the time it was divided.