Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs M Venkaiah Naidu, who has been in the eye of the storm for failing to secure special status to Andhra Pradesh as he had promised in the past, is now trying to pass the buck on to the Congress party.
On Thursday, Venkaiah squarely blamed the Congress and the previous UPA Government at the Centre for the present controversy surrounding the granting of special status to Andhra Pradesh.
Reacting sharply to the criticism of the Congress, he tried to wriggle out of a tricky situation by putting the onus on the Congress and the then UPA Government.
“Had the Congress and the UPA government enacted a law in this regard, the issue would be have been resolved long back,” he said.
He also accused the Congress leaders of not raising their voice in support when he had insisted for a special status to AP.
“Thus, these Congress leaders have no moral right to criticize the BJP in this regard”, he observed and appealed to the Opposition not to politicize the issue.
Venkaiah further said he was discussing the issue with the Union Home and Finance Ministries in this regard to resolve the same at the earliest.
As regards the deficit budget being faced by the AP State, the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission is being reviewed to find ways and means to ensure that the State would come out of the financial crunch.
Venkaiah, who mooted the demand for special status to AP in Parliament when the Reorganization Act was taken up, even after becoming a member of the Narendra Modi Cabinet seemed to be shying away in this matter.
