Implement promises, don’t blame Telugu States: TRS MP to Centre
TRS MP Nama Nageshwara Rao urged the Central government to resolve the pending issues pertaining to the State and release funds promised to various development projects
Hyderabad: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) took the battle to Parliament also on Tuesday and slammed the Centre for its failure to keep its commitment to extend support to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as per the promises made under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
TRS Lok Sabha floor leader Nama Nageshwara Rao said though both the States and their respective Chief Ministers were willing to cooperate, the Centre was not taking any initiative to implement the promises made under the Reorganisation Act, and was instead, blaming the two States on the issue.
He raised the issue in response to the reply given by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in Lok Sabha during Question Hour on the implementation of assurances made to Andhra Pradesh under the legislation. The Union Minister stated that Telangana and AP should settle their outstanding bilateral issues ‘amicably,’ claiming that a large number of provisions of the Reorganisation Act had been implemented and the remaining were at various stages of implementation.
“The Union government is shying away from its responsibility of implementing the AP Reorganisation Act and trying to project that all was not well between the two Telugu States. Neither Telangana nor Andhra Pradesh have any issues in cooperating with the Centre to settle any pending promises. In fact, both the Chief Ministers came to the Union government on numerous occasions for the implemention of promises made under the Act. It is now the Centre’s responsibility to implement its promises including Kazipet Railway Coach factory, tribal and mining universities and other such issues related to Telangana where AP has no role,” he asserted.
Later, participating in a discussion on the Finance Bill, the TRS floor leader urged the Central government to resolve the pending issues pertaining to the State and release funds promised to various development projects. Besides implementing the promises made under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, he wanted the Union government to release funds for second phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail as was allocated to metro rail projects of Cochin, Chennai, Bengaluru and Nagpur in the country. He also sought sanction of new Sainik Schools, Jawahar Navodaya Schools, Ekalavya Schools and other educational institutions at the earliest.
“Telangana is one of the major contributors to the nation’s economy and hence, it should be given priority in sanction of funds and projects. Though the Union Ministers and the Central agencies shower praises on implementing innovative schemes, there has been monetary support from the Union government to the State except for the tax devolutions mandated by the Constitution. A developing State like Telangana should be given ample support,” he said and sought the Centre to release Rs 5,000 crore immediately through tax devolution and also pending GST funds immediately.
Nageshwara Rao also suggested for implementing Zero Tax Returns for people with annual income upto Rs 5 lakh considering the Covid-19 induced economic crisis in the country. He wanted a fixed timeframe for implementing the dispute resolution scheme. He advised the Centre to take up a housing scheme for the poor on the lines of Telangana’s Dignity Housing scheme and provide double-bedroom houses. He asked the government to sanction a mega powerloom park at Sircilla.
Also read:
Telugu states should settle bilateral issues ‘amicably’: Union minister
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