Justifying the peaceful protests for the “Special Category Status”

In FY2012–13, Hyderabad contributed ₹70,548 crores of revenues to the then united Andhra Pradesh. After the dismemberment, an estimated ₹20,000 crores of revenues were lost by the Andhra Pradesh to Telangana. To compensate these revenue losses and other disadvantages faced by the newly formed successor state of Andhra Pradesh, the BJP demanded ‘Special Category Status’ to the state for 10 years, when the AP Reorganisation Bill was tabled in the Parliament in 2014. On 20th February 2014, Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister announced six-point benefits that included conferring the ‘Special Category Status’ to state.

After assuming the power in 2014, the NDA government declined to implement the ‘Special Category Status’ to Andhra Pradesh. Two years of continuous protests and the public discontent have forced the NDA government to announce the ‘special package’. The NDA government issued a statement about implementing five of the six-point benefits proposed by Dr Manmohan Singh, and could not confer the promised ‘Special Category Status’ citing this reason.

Thus following the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, the class of special category states ceases to exist. However, the Central Government has agreed to give a special assistance measure for Government of Andhra Pradesh for five years, which would make up for the additional Central share the State might have received during these years, i.e. 2015–16 to 2019–20, as envisaged in the then Prime Minister’s statement dated 20.2.2014. This will be in the form of Central Government funding for externally aided projects for the state for Andhra Pradesh signed and disbursed during these years.

After announcing the special package, the TDP has been pushing for legal status for the special package, while BJP was not enthusiastic about it. The way the Taxation Bill was passed during the Winter session of Parliament (2016), and the urgency through which the Union approved Jallikattu’s draft ordinance of Tamil Nadu have upset the public in Andhra Pradesh. The apathy of national parties towards Andhra Pradesh is humiliating, and the proposed protests on the eve of Republic Day appear justified to the majority.

The protesters are planned in three cities — Vishakapatnam, VIjayawada (part of CRDA), and Tirupati — which have been aggressively promoted as investments destination by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. Vishakapatnam has a huge potential to become a growth engine of Andhra Pradesh, and the government, public, entrepreneurs and investors have already put massive efforts in transforming the city. Little spark of violence will dent the image of the city. The responsibility is on all of us— the public, protesters, politicians, government — to ensure the tranquillity during the candle walk.

The Delhi-based parties will be busy with the Union Budget 2017 sessions followed by the assembly elections in the five states. It is unlikely that today’s protests’ get the due attention. The special package was announced, the current NDA government or the one in 2019 will not roll it back, and confer special status to Andhra Pradesh. However, the opposition parties will keep this issue boiling, and the continuous agitations by the public are undesirable. A political solution is the need of the hour.

The onus is on the Delhi-based parties — BJP and Congress — to keep their politics aside, show their political acumen, diffuse the current agitations in the state, put the state on the growth trajectory, and undo the damage done to the state. Their commitment to the state of Andhra Pradesh begins with either conferring special status or providing legal status to the special package announced last year. Special status or special package is not an end, the Delhi-based parties must play a proactive role in assisting Andhra Pradesh till the challenges of revenue deficit, debt, urbanisation, the pace of industrialisation, infrastructure etc., are addressed. All that we demand is achieving parity with the neighbouring states within the next five to ten years.

“If I were to remain silent, I’d be guilty of complicity.”
― Albert Einstein