Reportedly andhra pradesh chief minister jagan mohan reddy met prime minister narendra modi at his New delhi residence on wednesday evening. In a meeting that went on for nearly two hours, the two of them reportedly discussed several issues related to Andhra Pradesh. When handing over a letter containing key concerns of the state, jagan invited modi for the launch of the ‘Pedalandiriki Illu’ (housing for the poor) scheme on Ugadi (March 25), where 25 lakh beneficiaries are expected to get house pattas.
Furthermore the scheme is one of the ‘Navaratnalu’, or the nine major campaign promises made by Jagan. jagan is said to have requested modi to allow the state government to take over 800 acres of salt lands in the east godavari district, for developing house sites for the scheme. Hence as expected, the issue of capital decentralisation, abolition of Legislative Council, as well as Special Category Status and release of grants pending from the Centre were all part of the request letter, and the agenda of the meeting. He also reportedly requested the release of pending grants from the Centre towards construction of the capital, noting that only Rs 1,000 crore of the allocated Rs 2,500 crore funds have been released so far.
Moreover the three-capital proposal has kicked up a huge political storm in andhra pradesh, and has also triggered an agitation by farmers of the current capital region amaravati, who have been staunchly opposing the relocation of the capital. Reportedly with the Legislative Council, where the opposition tdp is in a majority, blocking the relevant Bill for having three capitals, the ysrcp government passed a resolution in the Legislative assembly seeking abolition of the Upper house of the state Legislature. Apparently jagan is also reported to have requested Modi’s support in abolishing the Council, complaining that it was acting as a hindrance to good governance by blocking Bills.
