Congress Alleges Centre's Injustice to Telangana Since State Formation
In a sharp critique during a Lok Sabha discussion on Wednesday, Congress MP Gaddam Vamsi Krishna from Peddapalli accused the Central government of systematically neglecting Telangana's development needs since its formation in 2014. He highlighted that several critical promises outlined in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, remain unfulfilled, causing significant disparities between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Unfulfilled Promises and Development Gaps
Vamsi Krishna emphasized that the Telangana agitation was fundamentally fought for three core demands: Neellu, Nidhulu, Niyamakalu (water, funds, and jobs). He pointed out that irrigation projects, such as the Banakacherla project on the Krishna river, are being advanced by Andhra Pradesh with Central support, allegedly under the guise of a 'double-engine sarkar,' while Telangana faces delays and underfunding.
On infrastructure, he noted a stark contrast: Andhra Pradesh boasts at least seven operational airports with commercial flights, whereas Telangana has only one. The proposed airport in Peddapalli has stalled, and railway projects in Telangana receive minimal funding compared to the thousands of crores allocated to Andhra Pradesh.
Critical Issues and Alleged Bias
The Congress MP raised alarming concerns about the Polavaram project's backwaters, which threaten the lives of approximately two lakh people in Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam due to potential flooding risks. Additionally, he listed several unaddressed commitments, including:
- The Bayyaram Steel plant, which remains unimplemented.
- A pending power bill of 20,000 crore that Andhra Pradesh owes to Telangana.
- A urea crisis at RFCL Ramagundam in Telangana, contrasting with no such issue in Andhra Pradesh.
- Denial of industrial corridors and semiconductor facilities to Telangana.
Vamsi Krishna alleged that these omissions reflect a broader pattern of injustice, where Telangana is sidelined in favor of Andhra Pradesh, undermining the state's economic growth and public welfare.
