Full Text: Rahul Gandhi writes letter seeking help for Andhra to PM Modi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. The Gandhi scion told the Prime Minister that while the previous UPA government, under then prime minister Manmohan Singh had assured special status to the state, nothing in that regard had been done since the NDA government came to power.

Pointing that the state is facing huge revenue deficit, the Congress leader accused the NDA government of not extending support to Andhra Pradesh.

Here's the full text of the letter:

Shri Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of India

7 Race Cou rse Road

New Delhi 110011

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to you in connection with the implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2013.

During the process of reorganisation, one of the major concerns of the people of Andhra Pradesh was the economic viability of their state. To address these concerns, the UPA government was careful to include a comprehensive development package for Andhra Pradesh within the Act itself.

For further support, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also announced Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh on the floor of the Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014. This announcement was later approved by the UPA Cabinet and sent to the Planning Commission for implementation.

Over one year has elapsed since the NDA government has come to power, but many of the commitments made to the state - including Special Category Status - remain unfulfilled. I have been to Andhra Pradesh twice over the last year. Everywhere I went, I could sense the severe disappointment and pain the people were in due to the Centre's failure to honour its commitments.

Today, the state is facing a huge revenue deficit and development initiatives are at a virtual standstill. Despite the obvious need for immediate aid, the Centre has still not acted to extend support.

Since you are visiting Andhra Pradesh to lay the foundation stone for its new capital Amaravathi, I would like to urgently request you to use this opportunity to grant Special Category Status and announce a time frame for the fulfilment of the commitments made in the Act.

Sincerely,

Rahul Gandhi