Rahul Gandhi says Andhra Pradesh's special status demand is justified, urges support from all parties

NEW DELHI: While the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) is up in arms against its ally Bharatiya Janata Party over the allocation of funds for Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has come in support of the former.

Calling the demands of Andhra 'just', Rahul said: "The Congress Party supports the just demands of the people of Andhra Pradesh for special category status and speedy completion of the Polavaram project. It's time for all parties to unite on this issue and support this call for justice."

The Congress Party supports the just demands of the people of Andhra Pradesh for special category status and speedy completion of the Polavaram project. It's time for all parties to unite on this issue and support this call for justice.#INCStandsWithAndhra

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 9, 2018

Andhra Pradesh has been demanding the Centre to allocate special funds for various projects in the state, and also honour promises and commitments made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned within minutes of assembling on Friday amid protests by members from Andhra Pradesh. Members from the TDP and Yuvajana Shramika Rythu (YSR) Congress trooped near Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's podium and started raising slogans demanding 'justice' for the state from which Telangana was carved in 2014.

The ties between the TDP and ruling BJP have been strained over the Union Budget not offering any special benefits to Andhra Pradesh. The TDP had last week held its Parliamentary Board meeting in Amaravati where it discussed whether they should snap ties with its ally at the Centre. The decision, however, was put on hold with the TDP claiming that it will continue to press for its demands.

"During the meeting Budget and fund allocations to Andhra Pradesh were discussed. We will continue pressuring the Centre for it. We will also raise the matter in Parliament, if needed," Andhra Minister YS Chowdary had said after the meeting.

The TDP is BJP's biggest ally in the South. The two parties had fought the 2014 elections in an alliance where the TDP had emerged as the second largest party in the NDA in terms of seats won.