After Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh braces for state-wide shutdown on Aug 2 - Know the issue

Hyderabad: The YSR Congress on Saturday called for a state-wide shutdown in Andhra Pradesh on August 2 over the special status issue.

The issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh has been boiling in the state with several political parties, including the ruling TDP, is backing the proposal.

The Congress too is trying to revive the party in the reorganised state by repeatedly raising the special status issue. It has sought the support of TDP and BJP for the cause.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had recently said in the Rajya Sabha that instead of allotting it a special constitutional entitlement, the government would “handhold” Andhra Pradesh until it becomes economically stable.

This caused an uproar in the Upper House with Congress members staging a walkout.

Jaitley said the Centre has limited resources and it would do its “best” to improve the economic condition of the state.

“As far as our commitment to honour each one of these commitments is concerned, it is absolute; there are no ifs and buts. Forty-two percent of the Central revenue goes to states. The rest 58% has to take care of defence, salaries, loans... We also have to support Central schemes. After that, the Central government has a deficit. This year, it is 3.9%,” Jaitley said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has reportedly expressed disappointment over the denial of Special Category Status (SCS) by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Addressing the media here, Naidu regretted the “injustice done to Andhra Pradesh” and asked what the BJP had done for the state apart from holding the Congress responsible for bifurcation.

Normal life was disrupted on Saturday across Karnataka due to a shutdown by the people over an inter-state tribunal rejecting the state`s interim plea for sharing the Mahadayi river waters.