Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) on the 14th of February, met Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India, in Delhi.
On the 12th of February, Jagan Mohan Reddy also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the 40 minute meeting between Jagan Mohan Reddy and Amit Shah, the former discussed the ongoing issues in A.P. He also discussed the proposal of having three State capitals, the decentralisation of the State’s capital and the abolition of the State Legislative Council.
The majority of the members of the Legislative Council (26) belong to the opposition, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP.) Jagan Mohan Reddy explained to Mr. Shah these members have ulterior motives, due to which the Legislative Council lost its purpose and should, therefore, be abolished.
He requested Amit Shah to order the Law and Order Ministry of India to take necessary steps for abolishing the Legislative Council.
The A.P., CM also discussed the A.P., Reorganisation Act, 2014 and asked Shah to fulfill the demands of the State, as was promised by the Central Government.
Jagan Mohan Reddy also spoke about the amount which needs to be given to the A.P., Government for the State’s growth and development. Highlighting the same, Mr. Reddy asked for financial help for the Kadapa Steel Plant, the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Corridor, the Ramayapatnam Port and the Kakinada Petroleum Complex.
In addition, Reddy also asked the Central Government to provide funds for schemes sponsored by the Central Government.
The State Government received Rs. 10,610 crores from the Centre during the current fiscal year (2019-2020.) He added this is half the amount which the State was given during the term of the previous Government, the TDP.
Jagan Mohan Reddy also spoke about the Central Government promising to establish a State Forensic Lab worth Rs. 253.4 crores in 2017. Out of the amount, Rs. 152 crores is the share of the Central Government, which is pending, due to which the forensic lab project is incomplete. The State Government also needs financial assistance for the Polavaram Project, which the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is determined to finish by 2021.
While concluding the meeting, Jagan Mohan Reddy asked Amit Shah about the approval of the recently implemented and passed A.P., Disha Act, 2019 for ensuring the safety of women in A.P.
The Act, which was passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, is yet to be approved by the Central Government and the President of India to become an Act in Andhra Pradesh.
While leaving, Jagan Mohan Reddy sought an appointment with other union ministers to discuss the issues in A.P.
Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to meet a few union ministers on the 15th of February.
