YSRCP confident Guv will approve new capitals Bill despite TDP's opposition

Vijayawada: The YSR Congress Party is confident that Governor Biswabushan Harichandan will approve the two Bills - the Development of All Regions Bill and APCRDA Repeal Bill - despite the Opposition's gimmicks.

Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, the state advisor (public affairs), said the Bills were passed in the Assembly for the second time and sent to the Governor for his approval. The TDP leaders, however, are trying to hold the Bills. The TDP supremo, N. Chandrababu Naidu, is concerned only about one community, leaving the rest in the lurch, Mr. Sajjala alleged.

Strongly advocating for decentralisation of development for balanced regional growth and rejecting the idea of concentrating development only in one place, Mr. Sajjala said that the former Chief Minister is trying to safeguard his supporters and his ill-gotten properties.

"Chandrababu Naidu and his party-men kept mum when the Bill was put up for discussion in the Assembly. But they put on a big show in the state Legislative Council. Earlier, the Bills were passed in the Assembly but were locked in the Council. The TDP, which has a majority in the Upper house, said that the Bills were sent to the select committee, which had not been formed at the time," he said.

Mr. Sajjala said that now that the Bills are in the final stages of being approved, Mr. Naidu is trying to confuse and mislead the public claiming that they require the approval of the President of India. Why is the President's approval required for decentralisation of capitals when the same was not required when Amaravati was designated the state capital? he questioned.

"Unlike during the TDP regime, the YSRCP government is not violating the rules. The decision for decentralisation was taken after a detailed study by expert committees and also after considering the report of the Sivaramakrishnan committee. It is Mr. Naidu who went against the interests of the majority and established the capital in Amaravati. He did not even consider the reports by experts nor did he consult the Opposition party," Mr. Sajjala said, adding the TDP chief should have completed building the capital city during his five-year rule. Instead, he misused the funds and spent only Rs. 2,000 crore, he alleged.

"He should answer the public whether he supports decentralisation or is only concerned about a few villages," the state advisor said.