"The union minister's statement on special category status is inappropriate. Not only should the Centre grant it but also extend full financial support to Andhra Pradesh till it grows on par with other states in south India," Naidu said in a public meeting in Visakhapatnam this evening.
On his part, YSR Congress president and Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy sought to blame the chief minister for the Centre's attitude on the special status issue, alleging that Naidu "sold out" the state's interests to the Centre.
The Union Minister of State for Home had yesterday said in the Rajya Sabha that there was no need to grant special category status to AP.
Congress, which raised the special status issue through a Private Member's Bill in Rajya Sabha yesterday, said the BJP betrayed the people of AP by going back on the promise of granting special status.
Also Read
"When the Centre is extending adequate financial assistance, where is the need for special status? The Centre is constantly reviewing what has been done so far and what has to be done further to AP," he added.
Reacting sharply to the remarks, Naidu today said gross injustice was done to AP due to the bifurcation.
The Centre should lend a helping hand to AP till the
"injustice is undone" and the state reached a level-playing field with other states in south India.
Referring to the union minister's claim that adequate financial assistance was being provided to AP, Naidu lamented that the Centre so far granted only Rs 2,500 crore as against the revenue deficit of Rs 16,000 crore.
"We need industrial incentives and Bundelkhand-type financial packages for the development of backward districts in the state. Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project has to be completed by 2018. A new railway zone has to be established at Visakhapatnam," he said.
"Exactly two years ago, the Congress necked out MPs of Seemandhra region from Parliament and committed a grave mistake by splitting the state. People of the region neither forgot nor will forget that insult. I hope the BJP will not commit a similar mistake," Kalyan said.
"On behalf of Seemandhra people, I request the ruling party MPs to take their opposition colleagues along and fight (for special status) in Parliament before people take to the streets and launch an agitation," he added.
Meanwhile, YSRC president Jagan accused the chief minister of "deliberately watering down" the demand.
"He (Naidu) says special status is not a panacea. Now, the Central ministers are mustering courage to openly announce in Parliament that special status is not required for AP only because of Chandrababu's claims," Jagan lashed out.