Will bring pressure on Centre for special status to AP: Chandrababu Naidu

VIZIANAGARAM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said he would ask Centre to grant special status to the residuary state without delay even as he extended support to various groups who are agitating for the demand.

Addressing a public meeting at Narsipuram village in Vizianagaram district, Naidu said his party will continue to "bring pressure" on Centre for providing financial assistance to the residuary state, which was bifurcated last year to create Telangana.

Naidu's TDP is an alliance partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

"The (previous) Congress government had divided the state in an unscientific manner and we have been suffering since then. We need a special status, a financial assistance to trigger economic activity and also to build the new capital city," the Chief Minister said.

Naidu said he supports various agitations which are demanding special status for the state.

"I will continue to bring pressure on Centre until AP becomes financially strong and is developed on par with other states," he said.

Naidu also inspected Thotapalli barrage works and held a review meeting with irrigation engineers of Srikkaulam and Vizianagaram districts.

He scolded engineers for delaying the completion of various projects under their jurisdiction and also warned contractors of blacklisting them if they intentionally delay the allotted works for cost escalation.

"We will blacklist contractors if they intentionally delay works for cost escalation. We will also write letters to other state governments suggesting them not to allot works to those errant contractors," he said.

Centre is yet to take the call on the demand raised by AP government.