Hyderabad: The Budget Sessions of two Legislatures Andhra Pradesh and Telangana began on a mixed note here on Saturday. While the budge...
Hyderabad: The Budget Sessions of two Legislatures Andhra Pradesh and Telangana began on a mixed note here on Saturday. While the budget session of the Andhra Pradesh began on a quiet note, uproarious scenes marked the start of the session of the Telangana State Assembly and Council.
Governor E S L Narasimhan's address to the AP Legislature broached on the central aid without which it would be difficult for the residuary state to successfully implement various developmental and welfare schemes. He said bifurcation had put the state at a disadvantage financially but the state government had decided to turn those disadvantages into advantages and develop the state into the top most developed state in the country in the coming years.
The Governor, who first addressed the AP legislature, during his 30 minute speech emphasised on how the bifurcation of the state had eroded its resource base and stated that the "Centre should give required assistance to stand on a level playing field vis-a-vis its neighbouring state." He did not mention about Union government at all in his subsequent address to the Telangana legislature.
Apart from outlining the policies of the government, the Governor told the AP legislators that post bifurcation issues, especially the huge financial deficits, continued to affect the state. Interestingly, the Governor said that AP's growth rate would exceed the national average growth rate of 7.4 per cent if the new base year was taken into consideration (the base year was revised by the Centre from 2004-05 to 2011-12).
In contrast to the AP Assembly, the Governor completed his speech in the Telangana State Assembly within 15-minute. His speech here was marred by slogan shouting by members of the TDP, BJP and Communist parties protesting against the ruling TRS party for "encouraging defections'.
The Governor emphasised on how the newly-created state of Telangana had begun its journey on a positive and progressive note and the growth showed encouraging trend. He highlighted how Telangana State government had formulated several programmes for the welfare of the people with a special focus on the disadvantaged sections of the society. He said the state had made considerable progress on all fronts despite several challenges it had faced.
While the Governor appeared more relaxed and read his speech leisurely while addressing the AP Assembly, he rushed through the speech in TS Assembly reminding one of the days when the Governor had faced furore and paper missiles when the agitation for separate state was at its peak in 2013.
By:V Ramu Sarma ( THEHANSINDIA )
