After Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's announced a financial package for Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said "he would have been happier had the Centre granted special status to the state."

A press conference was held where he said "the Centre should implement its promises "in true spirit" and in a time-bound manner. People of the state have been waiting for this for many days now...Had they granted special status, I would have been happier. In case they have some technical problems, they should do whatever is possible as per law."

Naidu also added that "the Centre expedite the work on the Polavaram project and complete it in a time-bound manner. With respect to the construction of the capital city, Amaravati Rs 2500 crore already been sanctioned and another Rs 1000 crore promised would not be in any way sufficient. The Centre should do justice in this regard."

Opposition parties in the state criticized Jaitley's announcement, saying there was "nothing" in it. CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said "It's a clear betrayal by BJP. This will be a black day in the history."

The center also has decided to make a separate railway zone for Andhra Pradesh with Vijayawada as the headquarters, instead of Vizag. This decision will be announced soon due to which representatives of various political parties  erupted in anger.

Political Parties staged a protest demanding railway zone at Vizag on Wednesday morning. Separate railway zone with Vizag as headquarters was a long pending demand which was given by the  region even before the separate Telangana movement gained momentum in 2002.  

A ‘maha dharna’ was decided to be organized by the leaders of YSRC, Left parties and various voluntary organizations who had met on Thursday at the divisional railway manager office at Dondaparthy. Vizag MP Haribabu and Anakapalle MP M. Srinivas Rao was present at the meeting. They are expecting that Vizag will be the headquarters of a new railway zone in Andhra Pradesh.

CPM state secretariat member Ch. Narasinga Rao has said "the BJP and TD were neglecting north Andhra and reminded that two resolutions, one in the Assembly of combined Andhra Pradesh and another after the division of the state, were passed unanimously in favor of separate railway zone with Vizag as the headquarters. "

He said that "an all-party forum was ready to stage rail roko and also to go for north Andhra bandh demanding special tag."

Also Read: Will AP get Special Status Today?

BY M. DIVYA SRI