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The Vice-Chairman and other members of the Planning
Commission have resigned along with the outgoing Government and there is no
need to give any credence to reports of Planning Commission saying that Andhra
Pradesh does not qualify for Special Category Status, Minister of Urban
Development and Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu said.
Putting to rest the doubts on the issue arising out of
reports in the media, he said that the statement was a part of the regular
briefing given to the new Minister by the consultants in the Commission and did
not have any official status.
The BJP Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
committed to accord SCS to Andhra Pradesh and it would be for 10 years as five
years would go in only drawing up projects and laying foundation stones for
them, Mr Naidu said. A 10-year tax holiday would also be given for new
investments in the State. Speaking at a function organised to felicitate him
here on Saturday, the Minister pointed out that when the consultations were on
about the AP Reorganisation Bill he had taken up the issue with then Planning
Commission Vice-Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. He was assured that since
Prime Minister is the Chairman of the Planning Commission his statement was the
official stand, however, it would have to be ratified by the National
Development Council comprising Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of all the
States. With more than half States being under BJP and Congress it would easily
be approved, Dr. Ahluwalia had told him, the Union Minister said.
The BJP Government was committed to the development of both
the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and would not take any steps that
would adversely affect either State, he said.
Pointing out that Polavaram project was the lifeline of
Andhra Pradesh, the BJP Government was committed to complete it, Mr. Naidu said
and dismissed statements against the Ordinance as politically motivated.