TDP quits [pushed out of] Modi ministry

• Both Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary handed over their resignation letters to Modi on Mar 8, 2018. Reacting to the TDP’s decision, two of the BJP ministers in the AP government, have also handed in their resignations a day earlier.
• The ‘uneasy’ ties between the BJP and the TDP hurtled to the edge with both partners hardening their stances on the issue of SCS. FM Arun Jaitley’s statement on Mar 7, 2018, when he categorically ruled out SCS, with added sarcasm and awkward body language, had precipitated matters. In essence BJP has pushed TDP out of Modi's NDA ministry.
• Modi reportedly made a call to Chandrababu Naidu in the evening. The TDP chief had spoken his mind on how the Centre had reneged on its promise, his 29 visits to the national Capital and finally, the PM not taking attending to his call on Mar 7, 2018. Naidu also told Modi that the people of AP were seething over FM Arun Jaitley's insulting comments. Naidu had asked Modi to do something for AP "since he had the authority".
• Naidu declined Modi's suggestion to come over to Delhi for discussions maintaining that the irreversible process has started and there is nothing for him to discuss. It is for Modi to honor all promises made in parliament and implement provisions of AP Re-organisation Act quickly since 4 years had already elapsed. Failing which TDP may exit from NDA too, very soon.
• Naidu said that Jaitley's statement was insulting to the TDP. Naidu slammed the FM for saying "sentiments will not decide the quantum of funds". Naidu's decision was appreciated and supported by all non-BJP parties.
• One national party has deceived AP and other national party has cheated AP. It’s for the nation to understand which is one and two, YS Chowdary said. The beauty of democracy, he further said, was to bring unanimity and make everyone happy and this was the BJP's responsibility.
• Between 2015-17, while Naidu made 29 trips to Delhi, during 2018 he was not even granted appointment by Modi indicating deterioration of ties. "This is the first step. We will go ahead with other actions later," PTI quoted Naidu.
• "We are committed to giving monetary equivalent to SCS to Andhra Pradesh ..." is the sentence repeatedly said by FM Jaitley and other BJP leaders, during the past 4 years, but in reality very little help was extended to AP. They adapted all kinds of delaying tactics especially for Polavaram project and capital Amaravati.
• The Congress said "The parochial autocratic alliance led by Narendra Modi could never accept a divergence of opinions or plurality and the splintering of the NDA that you are seeing now is a reflection of that philosophy of the PM and the BJP. And it does not start or end here." They said TDP is the oldest ally of the NDA as Naidu used to be the convener of the NDA, and Naidu showed the courage of his conviction to call a spade a spade in speaking out when Modi was the CM of Gujarat.
• “You cannot run away from your responsibility by attacking us. The Congress party was completely routed from AP for hurting the sentiments of the people. If you continue to hurt our sentiments by denying SCS, which is our right, you will have to meet the same fate” Naidu said.
• Prior to resignations announcement, TDP leaders said the BJP had pushed them to a position where taking a “tough stand” was the only option left. Naidu said he will take a call on whether or not to remain in the NDA before the second leg of the budget session ends. 
• FM Arun Jaitley citing 14th Finance Commissions recommendations coming in the way of granting SCS to AP is totally false and misleading. Even its former chairman YV Reddy clarified this matter. There is no body which comes in the way of working of Parliament and Central Government within the frame work of constitution. Modi is the real culprit and villain. All others are just parrots.

Most central ministers are sympathetic towards the problems of AP ever since AP Re-organisation in 2014, it was Modi who was adamant in not extending necessary help to AP. All the ministers are just speaking his mind while he is maintaining silence. Modi has no respect for statutes, institutions & people and his propensity is to bend constitution, acts and rules to suit what ever he wants to do without following any kind of democratic process. His style has chilling similarity with Italy's fascist dictator Mussolini and his actions are with spectacles without any substance. While Modi is adamant by nature and has 16 year old grievances against Naidu, nothing will happen since BJP's LS numbers are comfortable. TDP exiting NDA is a certainty and that is good for AP too. But with all major parties ditching NDA, BJP saddled with all round failures of Modi will have uphill task in 2019 elections with Rahul Gandhi's graph rising day by day and UPA scams losing its charm. BJP ending up in opposition benches is not ruled out. If Rahul Gandhi becomes PM in 2019, the credit goes to Modi for achieving this impossible feat in 5 years which Sonia Gandhi couldn't do in her 10 year UPA regime.

The present crisis provides an opportunity to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to resign and declare his solidarity with the people of his home state of AP. He has already been sidelined by Modi when nominated to VP's post last year. Having reached dead end of his political career, Venkaiah Naidu must rise above politics and become a "hero of a cause" emulating Kakani Venkataratnam in 1973.

AP students tops Telangana EAMCET 2017

• In Telangana almost 25% of people has AP roots and in Hyderabad city it is over 30%.
• Due to historical reasons, AP people are way ahead of TS people who were ruthlessly suppressed during Nizam regime.
• Due to lower land valuations in TS there was continuous migration of people from AP to TS along side the border.
• Due to some kind of democracy since 1920 prior to independence AP people were conversant with govt rules and procedures and were way ahead in exploiting opportunities both legitimately and illegitimately.
• Due to irrigation facilities people of AP were much richer than Telangana people.
• After 1973 land reforms, agriculture saw dead end in AP for farmers and they quickly exploited opportunities in education, jobs, real estate and private sector. In the process millions of people migrated from villages to towns and cities more importantly to the then capital Hyderabad and prospered.
• Prior to Telangana separation in 2014, slogans shouted to send back all AP people from TS back to AP for arousing emotions, much against the constitutional guarantees. Except politicians and government employees all have stayed back in TS. Even today most of politicians and government employees retained their residence in Hyderabad and are only shuttling between capitals of AP & TS.
• After 3 years today in 2017, one will discover most top notch positions in education and public life are still with people of AP origin either through local eligibility and/or non-local 15% quota and through innovation, excellence, entrepreneurship & investment in non-govt sector. This trend is likely continue with no end in sight.
• Reorganization impacted politicians and govt employees directly and residents of Hyderabad in particular in 2014. Now after three years hard feelings have subsided and nothing has been lost by people of AP and nothing has been gained by people of TS. But AP+TS combo has witnessed massive increase in administrative expenditure, synergy lost in utilization of shared resources like river water, power etc and overall Telugu people have lost their political influence in Delhi and else where.

It is when we act freely, for the sake of the action itself rather than 

for ulterior motives, that we learn to become more than what we were.

The ulterior motives with which you absorb and 

assimilate Evil are not your own but those of Evil. 

My View:

The way AP Reorganization bill was passed by LS by the UPA government in 2014, at the behest of Sonia Gandhi [with ulterior motive of winning elections and installing worthless Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister] is blatantly in violation of constitution, disregarding democratic traditions and conventions which were hitherto binding, and gross injustice meted out to the people of AP with most state assets gone to TS and most state liabilities to AP. While TS is celebrating festivities with surplus budget, AP is reeling under revenue deficits with little help from centre despite provisions of the Act. This is an atrocity by central government on its own people of AP, in the largest democracy of the world. For its selfish deeds, Sonia Gandhi paid bitter price when Congress was trounced completely in AP and mostly in TS in 2014 elections.

Farm loan waiver is a necessity

• About 50% of the population is engaged on agriculture directly, which makes farmers the most influential group of voters. Though not occupationally organised, their votes matter a lot and being perceived as pro-farmer has historically been the necessary requirement for being a popular political force in the country & states.
• In Feb 1990, Madhu Dandavate, V P Singh’s Finance Minister in  NF government, announced a debt relief scheme for farmers covering waiving overdues or outstandings of farmers and artisans up to Rs 10,000, and involved a fiscal cost of Rs.10,000 crore.
• Soon after the Modi government took over, bankers and RBI had warned the Finance Ministry of the dangers of such write offs. There was little support then from Delhi for the huge loan waivers announced by the newly formed states of AP and Telangana. As the Modi government worked on its first Budget, bankers, led by SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya and RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, got together to stymie the proposal — finally forcing the state governments to settle for a rescheduling of the loans.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the first pitch at a UP elections 2017 political rally where he said, “I will make sure that the first cabinet decision after forming the government in Lucknow is to waive farmers’ loans. That pronouncement cast the die for UP, a state already struggling under a huge debt burden, writing off farm loans aggregating Rs 36,359 crore,  up to Rs 1 lakh for about 21.5 million small and marginal farmers.
• Urjit Patel, RBI Governor, has voiced concern publicly over the latest loan waiver — saying it engendered a moral hazard and undermined the honest credit culture. As a matter of policy, nationalized banks do not write-off loans. The states will have to repay them on behalf of the farmer.
• There does exist a distinction between farmers owning five acres of land and farmers owning land more than five acres. Such a distinction is not per se discriminatory. No one has a right to get a waiver of the loan availed by him. 
• Hardly 30% of the farmers access institutional credit. A large section of those who access credit from banks are large farmers. Most small and marginal farmers took private loans as the process of obtaining institutional credit was cumbersome. 
• The UP Govt wants to finance this waiver by issuing state backed farmers relief bonds issued by a state organisation, which the govt repays at a later date. Such a large waiver scheme would negatively affect the state budget deficit levels, endangers its credibility and makes it tougher to obtain loans in the future. But Govt bonds are not debts in the state budget and do not affect the fiscal deficit significantly. At present, UP’s estimated fiscal deficit is Rs 41,400 crores.
• Development economists feel farm loan waivers are short-term measures, but are nevertheless necessary in times of severe drought or floods. However, they said that there was a deeper systemic problem that has pushed farmers strongly into the debt cycle.
• The price for farm produce has stagnated over the years. On the other hand, cost of agricultural inputs have soared. This has drastically pushed up the cost of production. For example, after decontrolling fertilizers in 2010, the cost of a few fertilizers have gone up over 1400%. Whereas the Minimum Support Price for paddy has gone up a mere Rs 470 or 68% in the same period. Unless the government reduces cost of production and increases agriculture profit, farmers will remain caught in the debt cycle and the cycle of farm loan waivers would be inevitable.
• The waiver of farm loans was not wrong in a situation where a debt-ridden farmer is debilitated by climatic conditions. The writing off farm loans adversely affecting the fiscal situation in states is small compared to subsidies doled out by govt for the corporate sector which is not seen as a burden.

What ever can go wrong, has gone wrong with rural India.

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, 
it cannot save the few who are rich ... John F. Kennedy

Government's view of the economy in a few short phrases: 
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. 
And if it stops moving, subsidize it ... Ronald Reagan

My View:

Today in India farm holdings are largely fragmented with 90% farmers owning or cultivating less than 5 acres. The anti farmer government policies on fertilizers & support prices, bankers reluctance to lend aggressively to farmers, rampant adulteration of seeds & pesticides, labour issues arising out of MNREGS, erratic irrigation & agriculture power supply, climatic uncertainties and menace of middlemen in procurement of farm produce have resulted in once profitable agriculture activity into a non-remunerative activity. Improper storage facilities, badly implemented crop insurance schemes are bane to farmers. Lacking skills & capital, farmers are  trapped in agriculture permanently, irrespective of viability. Most government promises are just eyewash and at times of crisis farmers are silently left to their fate compelling suicides. In 1980's & 90's farmers availing crop loans were rare just below 10% and today they are over 90%. With reduced incomes and higher interest burden (70% credit is private credit at higher rates) farmers making both ends meet has become an impossibility. 

Farming is livelihood for vast majority of lower classes, less educated, less skilled people of India (who are hitherto not employable in formal sector) and present policies are farming destructive. For a populous country like India, self sufficiency in food grains is a must. India is just self sufficient in food grains only because 40% of its population who are poor are surviving on just one square meal a day. If all rural people drops their non remunerative avocation and migrates to urban areas in search of livelihood it will be catastrophic for nation to face acute food shortage and its weak urban infrastructure will simply breakdown.

In order to ensure decent livelihood for farmers and at the same time ensuring cheap and affordable food to all spectrum of poor people of country and in the absence of reliable inputs, crop insurance and marketing systems etc it is imperative to provide at least 60% of entire crop expenses as subsidy, 40% paid at the beginning of season and final 20% after verification of before harvesting as direct credit into their bank accounts. This subsidy can be rationalized as reliable systems develop and come into operation. This is not to save or enrich farmers but to stay put farmers in non remunerative agriculture and averting the nation from food crisis. 

Until then periodic farm loan waiver schemes is a necessity and inescapable, no matter what our insensitive economic pundits from air-conditioned ivory towers say.

Modi & Co cheats Andhra Pradesh

We all know that Sonia Gandhi and UPA with the connivance of BJP etc has bifurcated the state of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 purely for political reasons without following procedures, conventions, rules, laws and even abused constitution giving away capital, bulk of the assets, revenue, job & business opportunities to Telangana and inflicting deadly blow to residual Andhra Pradesh saddled with huge liabilities and unmanageable budget deficits. The Act only doled out vague assurances with out mentioning financial implications and time frames for development of AP in the AP Reorganization Act 2014, by using meaningless words 'shall', 'examine', 'consider' etc in the Act stunning the the people of AP.

The then PM Mr. Manmohan Singh, while speaking in Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014 offered following steps to address concerns of people of Seemandhra region, outside the AP Reorganization Act 2014 at the behest of BJP's leaders Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu:
1. Special category status will be extended to the new AP state for period of 5 years to put state finances on firmer footing
2. Central government will take all fiscal measures such as tax incentives to promote industrialization and economic growth in successor states, along the lines extended to other states
3. Special development package to backward regions of the new AP state, which includes 4 districts of Rayalaseema and 3 districts of Uttarandhra (northern districts), along the lines of KBK plan and Budelkhand plan
4. Central government will execute Polavaram project including passing amendments for full rehabilitation of displaced families
5. Appointed day will be fixed to facilitate smooth transfer of personnel, finances etc
6. Any resource gap (i.e. revenue deficit) encountered by successor state of AP in bridging state finances between appointed day and acceptance of 14th Finance Commission recommendations by government will be compensated in 2014-15 budget.

The promises made for helping AP to survive without capital, institutions and budget deficits etc works out to Rs.3,00,000 crores and over 10 years it works out to Rs.30,000 crores per annum. During the past 2+ years central budget provisions were NIL and actual funds flow to AP were less than Rs 5,000 crores. With people of AP and Govt of AP becoming increasingly impatient and agitations and sentiments getting hardened, Modi & Co sat down to implement promises made in the Act only ignoring several promises made on the floor of Parliament while passing the Bill. The attached document 'Central Assistance to Andhra Pradesh' unveiled by Arun Jaitley & Venkaiah Naidu, Union Ministers in the press conference at New Delhi on Sep 8, 2016, again leaving the most important issues hazy and unaddressed. At best the package works out to about Rs.1,50,000 crores without any time frames. Implementation of the proposed package, falling short of the Act, is gross and mischievous violation of implementation of AP Reorganization Act 2014.

AP should file writ of mandamus in Supreme Court against Union Government to properly fulfill their duties or correct deliberate abuse of discretion. Recently ONGC fled case in SC against Reliance Industries as A1 and Union Government (MoPNG), the 70% equity share holder, as A2 in "Great India Gas Robbery by Reliance" and independent consultant's findings were embarrassing for GOI's complicity in Reliance's systematic pilferage of Gas from ONGC's gas fields for several years. Hats off to ONGC chairman Mr. Dinesh K Sarraf for walking extra daring miles to safe guard its organization's interests.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintains stoic silence, his deputies Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu cites vague interpretation of 14th Finance Commission report to deprive Special Category Status to AP. The only place 'Special Category Status' was mentioned in the report is as below
On page 17 (para 2.29 & 2.30) of the Report, the Commission has stated (inter alia):
“We did not make a distinction between special and general category states in determining our norms and recommendations ... In our assessment of State resources, we have taken into account the disabilities arising from constraints unique to each State to arrive at the expenditure requirements. ...
This only limits financial assistance to states irrespective of category. But more important benefit is in the form of tax incentives to industries which will boost economy, revenues and employment opportunities etc which was unaddressed by Arun Jaitley and misrepresented by Venkaiah Naidu in his press conferences with his vocal talents. This is outright abuse of AP and misleading the nation.

New capital construction, with its associated features & facilities, requires at the least Rs.75,000 crores and at the best Rs.250,000 crores and centre extending Rs.2,500 crores assistance is a matter shame. AP CM Chandrababu Naidu remarking that this paltry amount is not even sufficient for underground power cabling amply reflects the displeasure.

The mischievously worded Polavaram project assistance
The Central Government will fund the Polavaram Irrigation Project in the following manner:
(i) It will provide 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component only of the project for the period starting from
1.4.2014, to the extent of the cost of the irrigation component on that date.
puts huge burden on AP Govt due to (1) exclusion of Power House (2) limiting the central assistance as per 2014 estimates (3) Non reimbursement of money already spent by AP to the tune of Rs.5,000 crores. The result is that Centre will spend about 50% of actual project cost as and when it gets completed and remaining by AP Govt. This is day light robbery of AP by Centre.

More and more analysis will only end up in Central Government abstaining from its committed responsibilities towards the people of AP and BJP will surely pay bitter price in next 2019 elections. Discrimination between North and South is amply clear. I won't get surprised if BJP collapses under its own weight and Congress returns to power. Pavan Kalyan's compared Jaitley's package as two rotten laddu's and demanded AP Govt to reject it outright.

It is pertinent that Modi should 

1. be empathetic to the suffering of people AP after illegal state bifurcation
2. understand aspirations of people of India instead of capitalists of foreign countries
3. realize that governance is not maximizing revenues by elimination subsidies & deceiving southern people rather than trimming its own expenses and balancing budget as per IMF guidelines 
4. limit his own very expensive and unnecessary & fancy foreign jaunts 
5. avoid fancy & white elephant projects like 'Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project' which only serves Gujarati rich people rather than Indian common man
6. special status and central assistance to AP is the right of people of AP and Modi & Co's behavior denying these is nothing but rude and highhanded 
7. recollect Gandhi's advise to Nehru & Patel on assuming offices just after independence is paraphrased below .... whenever you set up to sign a file think of the common on the street & peasant in the fields and if it benefits him then sign it otherwise examine it thoroughly,

otherwise his Waterloo in 2019 elections is certain paving the way for undesirable Congress to return to power like in 1979, 1992 and 2004 mainly due to BJP leaders behaving worse than Congress leaders.

Venkaiah Naidu has completed successful burial of BJP in AP, 100 feet below the ground by doing nothing and defending Modi & Jaitley's manipulations. Needless to say Sonia Gandhi got nothing out of manipulations and Venkaiah Naidu in all probability will also get nothing despite his aspiration to the post of President or Vice President. 

TS gets SC snubs on sharing common assets

As per AP Reorganisation Act 2014, institutions listed in Schedule IX and X are to to be shared by AP and TS in proportion to population i.e. 58% to AP and 42% TS. Since all these institutions are located in common capital Hyderabad and city police control is with TS, Telangana forcibly occupied these institutions compelling AP to approach courts. While HC upheld TS arguments, SC was in agreement with AP arguments. Also SC Bench upheld the AP contention. SC also rejected review petition by TS.

Now TS has to pay AP about Rs. 50,000-70,000 crores in order to keep its full control of these institutions.

My View:
The hurriedly drafted AP Reorganization Act 2014 (drafted by UPA regime in consultation with KCR) was heavily favoring Telangana leaving AP helpless and vulnerable. 

It is a matter of shame that TS Govt files appeals against SC judgement in the form of review petition and curative petition etc with evil intention of delaying payments to AP as much as possible thus defeating the provisions AP Reorganization Act 2014, in letter and spirit.

BJP's Modi's central government nurturing secret ambitions in AP and TS turned Nelson's eye to AP's grievances thus forcing AP to approach SC for every small thing and resolution is painfully time consuming.

Telangana's KCR administration shamelessly interprets wrongly the provisions of the Act resorting to looting of legitimate rights of AP everywhere. Common Governor, despite responsible for fairness in between two states, simply keeps quiet and enjoys going on pilgrimage every month, is practically useless for protecting AP's interests.

AP deprived of its capital, revenue sources, opportunities, institutions is not getting its legitimate help from central government and is saddled with huge  budget deficit. With hostile TS administration for Andhra people living in Hyderabad city is nothing short of hell. On other hand TS is celebrating festivities with surplus cash, at the fall of hat.

PV Sindhu - Olympic Silver Medalist - Felicitations and Controversies

The Olympic Silver Medal 2016 winner PV Sindhu is no doubt resident of Hyderabad all through. By birth & domicile she belongs to Hyderabad the capital of erstwhile AP and these days to Telangana. But her parents hail from a village in West Godavari dist and Vijayawada respectively. And nothing wrong for Andhraites felicitating this girl from Andhra as well.

Soon after Sindhu won the silver, Naidu quickly announced a Rs 3 crore cash reward for her along with a 1,000 square yard residential plot in AP's upcoming capital Amaravati. He also offered her Group I officer's post of special grade deputy collector in the AP government. On Tuesday an appointment order was kept ready for her, but Sindhu declined the offer. Telangana government biggies who had tweeted that a Rs 1 crore cash reward would be given to Sindhu upped the offer to Rs 5 crore soon after Naidu declared his intent to give Rs 3 crore.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Aug 22, 2016 presented a cheque of Rs. 5 Crore to Olympic Silver Medalist PV Sindhu. He also presented a cheque of Rs. 1 crore to her coach Pullella Gopichand. Speaking on the occasion, KCR said that the State Government would introduce a new Sports Policy to encourage young players like Sindhu.

A day after being felicitated by Telangana government, Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu was accorded a rousing welcome by the Andhra Pradesh government for her stupendous performance at Olymics 2016 at Rio. A huge crowd lined up the streets of Vijayawada to greet Sindhu as she alongwith her coach Pullela Gopichand embarked on another open-top-motorcade from Gannavaram Airport to Indira Gandhi Stadium. Later, Sindhu and Gopichand was felicitated at the stadium by AP CM Chandrababu Naidu with a cheque for Rs. 3 crores, a 1000 sq yds plot at Amaravati etc.

Some controversies in social media are:

“Sindhu belongs to Telangana. Our name is world famous now because of her but Andhra Pradesh wants to steal her from us. Why are they interfering when we are honoring her? They must respect our statehood and back away from our state’s assets”, said a minister in Telangana government.

Meanwhile, P. Gopichand’s comment that Sindhu belongs to India has been dismissed by both state governments saying that nobody is Kabir Khan here and this is not a Bollywood film.

My View:
We are all Indians first and Indians last. It doesn't matter whether we belong to AP or TS or any other state. We are all national assets. I see KCR & Co spitting venom for AP's claim of Sindhu which in any way is inconsequential. His mouthpiece "Namaste Telangana" spreading false stories that Sindhu's father hails from Adilabad is despicable. This is nothing but poisoning the minds T people against Andhra people till the truth comes out little later.

I have no problem in KCR & Co claiming Sindhu as Telanganaite. But in the same way almost all Hyderabadis with AP origin should get their legitimate right as Telanganaite. In the recent past several people in TS Govt service with Andhra origin were identified and thrown out of their jobs of few decades and they were compelled to approach court for grievance redressal. This is contradictory.

Modi grants nothing to Telangana state as well.

• For Godavari pushkaralu during 2015, centre has granted Rs.100 crores for AP and Rs.50 crores where as expenditure was several hundreds of crores. This discrimination was objected to by KCR.
• For Krishna pushkaralu this year 2016, the expenditure is huge at Rs.1,080 crores by AP Govt and Rs.800 crores by TS Govt. TS demanded 75% i.e. Rs.600 crores grant from Centre. Centre has rejected its assistance for both the states.
• Modi inaugurated Telangana's Mission Bhagiratha Phase I costing Rs.858 crores on August 7, 2016. KCR requested Modi for Central assistance of 80% for Rs.42,000 crore Mission Bhagiratha and Modi gave nothing.
• Even though KCR spent more than Rs.50 crores for the Modi's inauguration and praised him a lot, Modi also praised KCR but didn't announce any specific support to any project much to disappointment of KCR & Co. 
• KCR's non-stop praising of Modi is due to a CBI case pending and recent questioning of him by CBI for allegaed corruption in ESI Hospital construction case.
  None of the KCR's projects like Kakatiya Mission, Kaleswaram project, Hyderabad's ITIR project, Palamuru-Dindi LI scheme etc are awaiting Modi's mercy for funds. Of course TS hasn't followed any procedures for obtaining any clearances for these projects, is another matter.
• Earlier in 2015 while laying foundation stone for AP capital Amaravati, contrary to expectations of people of AP, Modi announced nothing and gave only a pot of Yamuna water and Parliament house's pouch of earth and tried to arouse sentiment. While Naidu spent about Rs.200 crores for the function and got nothing in return from Modi.

So it is clear that Modi is only a taker and gives nothing to anybody.

• During his two year regime crude oil prices fell by more than 80%. Modi passed on only 20% to people and retained 80% with centre by increasing excise duty.
• He has minimized LPG subsidy and also removed subsidy for higher income people.
• While 14th Finance Commission increased state's share of central taxes from 32% to 42% and centre accepted  the report in toto but centre has withdrawn from several jointly funded welfare schemes by much more amount. These schemes will have to continue at state's expense thus in totality centre is benefited financially by implementing the report.
• Modi announced Rs.1000 crores help to Visakhapatanam destroyed by 'Hudud' but state received only Rs.400 crores whereas damages are in excess of Rs.8,000 crores.

Modi sanctions 'Bullet Train' to Ahmedabad-Mumbai route at Rs.100,000 expenditure while Rs.80,000 external soft loans and centre's contribution is in excess of Rs.25,000 crores. He has kept aside 6 priority routes identified by experts during UPA regime and sanctions Ahmedabad-Mumbai route.

Modi appears like 'PM of Gujarat' rather than 'PM of India' 

like Deve Gowda PM of Karanataka in the past.

BJP & Modi makes mockery of AP Reorganization Act 2014

Centre is supposed to resolve the teething issues between AP and TS which couldn't be resolved by them mutually with in a month or two, as per the AP Reorganization Act 2014  and also directed by the Supreme Court in its recent judgement.

The list of unresolved, teething and burning issues, even after two years of states reorganization, are:

1. Role of governor in maintenance of law and order in Hyderabad.
2. Division of institutions listed in Schedules 9 & 10 of the Act.
3. Delay in bifurcation of High Court.
4. Granting special category status to AP.
5. Granting incentives for promotion of new industries in AP.
6. Increasing Assembly seats in AP & TS, which requires Constitution amendment.
7. Sharing of power.
8. Sharing of Krishna & Godavari river waters.
9. Inaction by KRMB and Apex council.
10. Operation of Nagarjuna Sagar & Srisailam dams and its power houses.
11. Release of adequate funds to AP for (i) budget deficit gap reimbursement (ii) Capital city construction and (iii) Polavaram dam construction
12. Delaying funds for construction of buildings etc for national institutions started in temporary premises.
13. Dugarajapatnam port sanction got diverted to Tamil Nadu.
14. Kadapa steel plant conveniently forgotten.
15. Railway zone for AP yet to be announced.
16. Srisailam based LI projects by TS without water allocation and approvals will effect downstream AP's agriculture interests.

However, the Central Government headed by Narendra Modi of BJP is maintaining stoic silence over teething and burning issues purely for political reasons and protecting BJP's prospects in these states. On the contrary it is making vicious campaign that they are doing lot more than what they are supposed to do and they will fulfill all provisions made in the Act but never states when.

In most matters, AP is in disadvantageous position and is greatly disappointed for not getting enough central assistance & support even after two years of bifurcation despite being coalition partner at centre and in AP.

Like Deve Gowda was stated as PM of Karnataka, Modi is unable to see anything beyond Gujarat reflected by the recent visit of Chinese premier to Gujarat only and announcing several Chinese projects for Gujarat. And also Modi granted bullet train to Ahmedabad-Mumbai route only (in place of Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune route) and keeping aside five other equally or more important routes.

My View:
Arun Jaitley's statement in RS stating that AP just because is a coalition partner can't be given more funds is not only offensive but also insult to people of AP. First of all let him fulfill his legal obligations to AP as defined in the AP Reorganization Act 2014 and recollect promises made by Modi, Venkaiah Naidu and himself in various fora and fulfill them. After that the matter of favors comes into picture. The pertinent questions are just because AP is their coalition partner can't be deprived of their legitimate rights and keep them perennially waiting for central assistance. BJP trying to appease non coalition state governments (like TS, Orissa & TN) for political reasons* at the expense of coalition partners (like AP) is not only wrong but also unacceptable non-sense.

While Sonia Gandhi, Congress and UPA made blunder of passing defective AP Reorganization Bill 2014, circumventing the conventions & procedures with the help of BJP, now BJP & Modi are making mockery by not implementing their obligations of the Act and not rectifying the mistakes made in that Act and making irresponsible statements in Parliament belittling themselves.

Congress was buried in AP in 2014 elections then for their misdeeds now BJP is also heading for the same in next elections in AP.

* BJP requires support of TRS, AIADMK and BJD for passage of  GST bill in RS.
  Special category status denied to appease TRS and AIADMK.
  Polavaram delayed to appease BJD.

Arun Jaitley declines granting Special Category status to AP

On providing more funds to the state, the minister said that the central 

government also had limited resources, and it is doing its best

IANS  |  New Delhi   July 29, 2016 Last Updated at 17:44 IST

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said the central government will handhold Andhra Pradesh till it recovers to a level from where it can progress on its own, but his assurance did not satisfy the opposition Congress which staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha.

The minister was replying to a short duration discussion in the upper house on implementing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which led to creation of Telangana. "Andhra Pradesh has lost revenue, even though in long run it is bound to recover. For some time it will need handholding. Undivided Andhra was a revenue surplus state. But the division created a situation where the more lucrative part has gone to Telangana," Jaitley said, adding he was confident that Andhra will get back on track of development.

"As far as our commitment to honour each one of these commitments is concerned it is absolute, there are no ifs and buts," he said. On providing more funds to the state, the minister said that the central government also had limited resources, and it is doing its best.

As he finished, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said his party was not satisfied with the reply, and its members staged a walkout from the house.

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Being an articulate Supreme Court advocate by profession, Arun Jaitley didn't answer the question of granting Special Category Status to AP as promised by the then Prime Minister in Rajya Sabha while passing AP Re-organisation Bill 2014, as a precondition set by Venkaiah Naidu and himself, BJP leaders in RS. While BJP demanded 10 year status, Manmohan Singh announced status for 5 years only.

The following were promises & commitments made in AP Re-organisation Bill 2014.

1. AP Budget revenue deficit estimated for 1st year i.e. 2014-15 is Rs.16,000 crores for five years will be in the vicinity of Rs.40,000 crores.
2. Capital city construction .. conservative estimate shows at least Rs.1,00,000 crores.
3. Polavaram Project declared as national project will cost about Rs.25,000 crores.
4. Railway Zone with HQ in AP.
5. 20+ Central institutions like IIT, IIM, AIMS, NIT, IIIT, IISER, Central University, Tribal University, Petroleum University, Agriculture University, National Disaster Management Institute, etc will cost about Rs.20,000 crores.
6. Dugarajupatnam port development will cost about Rs.10,000 crores.
7. Steel plant at Kadapa will cost about Rs.15,000 crores.
8. Refinery & Petrochemical complex will cost about Rs.10,000 crores.
9. Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor.
10. Metros for Vijayawada & Visakhapatnam will cost about Rs.20,000 crores
11. ORR for Vijayawada will cost about Rs. 18,000 crores.
12. Urban development will cost about Rs. 20,000 crores.
13. Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada & Tirupati International Airports development might cost about Rs.10,000.

The total funds committed by Center in the Act would be over Rs.3,00,000 crores in 10 year time frame. Even if evenly spread out over 15 years budget should provide Rs.20,000+ crore every year.  In the last two budgets provision made was NIL and funds released so far was just Rs.2,000 crores.

Special category status, for 10 years, is all the more important to attract new industries setting up quickly, thus accelerating industrial growth, job opportunities and increasing state revenues.

Arun Jaitley & Narendra Modi are fundamentally anti-south. Jaitley immediately after taking over as FM remarked that there is no mechanism for transferring of central funds to state indicating that in his priorities extending assistance to AP is last. No provision made in his two budgets confirms this. Modi conveniently forgot all his election utterances while campaigning in AP. He promised sky and showed moon in his palm. Now he maintains stoic silence in AP matters. Chandrababu Naidu's 29 trips to Delhi is nothing but waste of time and petrol. 

Arun Jaitley stating that centre is facing deficit of 5-6% and hence could not extend liberal help to AP is untenable. Union Budget for the last 50-60 years was never surplus. In the absence of funds availability why UPA Govt in collusion with BJP resorted to AP Bifurcation in 2014 when the bill (without financial statement) was rejected by AP Assembly and Seemandhra people agitated against bifurcation, invoking Article 3. Why budget implication was not studied properly while preparing the bill in detail? Any bill which usually have an annexure of financial details was missing in this AP Re-organisation Bill 2014, which was never prepared by Union Home Ministry.

Venkaiah Naidu is another useless fellow. He cares for nobody. Not even family or friends. He cares for his minister position at any cost. Why he is licking boots of Modi & Jaitley when his motherland is being raped by them? Shameless fellow, tells AP people that centre has already given over a lakh of crores while CM is stating that the receipts from centre so far are about Rs.2,800 crores only. He is like a pet dog of then Vajpayee & Advani and now Modi wagging tail and licking boots. Last two years he talks, talks and never did any good to AP. Incapable to get anything for AP. Waste fellow. Fit only for cracking some jokes in Telugu like a joker. Comedian entertaining Modi & Co. Ignore him.

BJP's rule is worse than Congress. The only thing helping Modi is that crude oil prices at its lowest for two long years with no signs of increase for another one year had already resulted in FE outflow saving of about Rs.500,000 crores. Only 10-15% benefit of low prices was passed on to end users and remaining 85-90% was retained by centre and that helped economic parameters lookup. 

AP's budget deficit of Rs.16,000 crores pa translates to to Rs.1,333 crores every month. If centre reimburses this money after 3-4 years, how will AP Govt survive to pay its bills, salaries &  pensions, fund welfare apart from huge development expenditure, month on month?

Thus, Undavalli Arun Kumar ex-MP's remark - that while Congress attempted to rape AP in 2014, BJP actually raped AP in 2016 - very much true it is.

While Parliament is supreme, all other institutions namely National Development Council, Finance Commission, Planning Commission, Niti Aayog etc are subordinate bodies of Govt of India i.e. Council of Ministers headed by PM. When Manmohan Singh's Union Cabinet has already approved granting Special Category Status to AP in 2014, how can Modi & Co claim that Special status can't be accorded due to conflict of rules of Finance commission and Niti Aayog? Ridiculous excuse by Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu. Modi remains tight lipped.

Finally, it is very clear that BJP at Centre won't do anything to AP except lip service. These days people in high places are afraid of only lung power. Chandrababu Naidu should realize that. Requests and begging leads him to nowhere. The only way is to develop ourselves within our own means slowly and steadily rather than waiting and looking at sky for windfall to arrive. In the meantime enforce austerity, eliminate wastage and corruption and money thus saved, apart from money mobilized for overseas lending agencies, could be used for development step by step. Devoid of funding sources, no point in being hurry.

In Delhi, nobody works nobody. Everybody works for self for profit.

TS stealing Krishna Water at Jurala

CAG report of 2012 on JALAYAGNAM Projects states that none of these projects have approvals, or water allocations or DPR's. Undivided AP being the lowest riparian state then, there was no harm to upper riparian states i.e. Maharashtra & Karnataka while KWDT I states that undivided AP could use unallocated or surplus or flood waters without claiming any rights in future. Post bifurcation of AP in 2014, new Telangana State became an upper riparian state and thus lost its benefits associated with lower riparian state. This was shouted loudly by ex-CM Kiran Kumar Reddy which was both ignored and laughed at him.

In this season not a single drop has reached Srisailam so far while both Srisailam & Nagarjuna Sagar Dams (with firm allocations of Krishna waters) are below minimum levels. KRMB rejected water use for AP and TS for all purposes except drinking water to Hyderabad in its recent meeting. TS defying KRMB's order and diverting 16,000 cusecs of Krishna water at Jurala, the very first inflows to Kalwakurthy, Bhima, Koilsagar, Nettempadu projects (based on Krishna flood waters only) for its trial runs totaling 16 TMC speaks volumes about TS's audacious nature, utter disregard for  Constitution of India, Laws of the land, Regulatory Institutions etc. and its selfish nature harming lower riparian AP. It may also be noted that during past two years, TS had abused its position of advantage at NS Dam and Srisailam left bank power house and operated in violation of KRMB directives and harming AP's legitimate interests umpteen times.

We can deal with sensible people. 
How do we deal with mad fellows?

TRS Minister Harish Rao releases water from Jurala Project In Mahabubnagar District 

in a widely publicized function on July 21, 2016, for which KRMB rejected its approval.

My View :

• Narendra Modi's BJP Government at Center, aspiring to strengthen its political base across the country, is avoiding controversies exhibiting its spinelessness since two years. While this has become advantage to TS, is harming legitimate interests of AP. 
• Hence AP has no other option except to (a) Campaign in media and expose evil nature & doings of TS on continuous basis and (b) knock doors of Supreme Court at the first instance of abuse, without waiting for rascals & scoundrels to see reason and behave sensibly and responsibly, which is not their nature.

Chandrababu Naidu's extravaganza for personal fancies

Chandrababu Naidu has spent over Rs.100 crores for his personal comforts, chartered flights & fancies. His recent Russian trip with a team and hiring chartered aircraft paying crores of rupees is another addition to the list apart from extravagant swearing in ceremony and capital city's foundation stone laying by PM Modi.

Full article is at : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Funds-flow-freely-for-Naidus-own-expenses/articleshow/47135892.cms

Lenders & Financiers will always be wary of this type of spending as reflected by Govt of India's withholding budget deficit gap financing for years 2014-15, 2015-16 for thorough scrutiny and other assistance as promised in AP Reorganization Act 2014.

US lawmakers admonished CEO's of GM, Chrysler & Ford for travelling chartered fights from Detroit to Washington DC for seeking $25 billion bailout package from US Federal Government on November 19, 2008, even though it was their standard policy for safety of top executives.

Full article is at: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/11/19/autos.ceo.jets/

If people of AP believes that Chandrababu Naidu will get in funds for investments from abroad, they are mistaken. Funding agencies do thorough due-diligence to ensure that their investments are safe and earn assured returns. And this type of extravaganza falls short of their expectations. Trying to create hype and attract investments by making power point presentations and colorful brochures are of no use when ground reality is contrary to it.

My View:
Chandrababu Naidu acquiring land in the name of "Land Mobilization" for Capital Amaravati is in fact state doing real estate business is unethical & wrong. The right method is to identify land and acquire it, in 5 phases of 5,000 acres each, and pay compensation as per statutes. For the capital all that is needed is to construct Raj Bhawan, Assembly & Council, High Court, Secretariat , Offices & Quarters and some more land for public utility purpose like Convention Center, Guest Houses etc. All put together, 10,000 acres would be sufficient but 25,000 acres would be splendid for accommodating institutions like education city, health city, information technology city, film city, sports village, business & financial districts etc. Industrial growth (non polluting) could be earmarked on degraded forest land denotified around the capital. We don't need to build iconic structures with Singapore help. We can have decent, economic, efficient buildings. Iconic buildings should be limited to Raj Bhawan, Assembly & Council, High Court, Secretariat and 5* Hotels only. No wastage of money through extravaganza. In India, we have enough expertise to undertake this activity. Thinking of competing with Hyderabad, Bangalore & Chennai is futile. In fact we should fall back on these cities. For building capital Amaravati we could obtain financial help from Center, borrow at low interest & long term loans from HUDCO and World Bank. Providing air connectivity to all metros in India and nearby international destinations like Dubai, Singapore & Hong Kong with further connections to world would be great idea for Trade, Tourism and IT development.

Nothing comes FREE in this word. Paying by cash is the cheapest. Any other mode will have inherent and much higher payments.

TS & AP Budgets in Doldrums

Prior to bifurcation in 2014, Andhra Pradesh budget was about Rs.100,000 crores. After bifurcation Telangana (TRS and KCR) were under celebration spree and spent public money like water. In AP, TDP and Chandrababu Naidu were jubilant regaining power after 10 years, even though in the truncated state of AP, spent public money extravagantly for swearing in ceremony etc. Of course AP expenditure increased for identifying capital, it's design and many other expenses. However, there was no justification for wasteful expenditure in both the Telugu states.

 

The 2015 budget for AP has inflated figures to over Rs.100,000 crores and not to be left behind TS also inflated its budget to over Rs.100,000 crores. Ironically, year end figures fell short by over 30%. Not learning lesson, both the state's presented 2016 budgets inflated to Rs.130,000 crores.

Budgets exceeding realistic revenues have wide ranging negative effects. Departments, with approved budgets starts various projects/schemes but will fail to get money released in time and make timely payments losing credibility apart from time & cost over runs. The recent strike by network hospitals of 'Arogyasri' to recover their Rs.350 crores dues is a classic example. Fiscal discipline by states is paramount otherwise suppliers and creditors will insist on letter of credit for executing state government orders. Deviations in budgets and actual figures must be viewed seriously and accountability fixed on the people responsible for the fiasco.

CM & Ministers must stop using their executive powers indiscriminately. No expenditure should be allowed without legislature sanction. There is no such contingency, other than managing after effects of natural calamities, which can't be planned and prior budget approval obtained.

Politicians holding responsible government positions should be debarred making irresponsible, fancy and whimsical statements without completing groundwork.

With AP shifting its capital to Amaravati, TS secretariat now has 10 lakh sft against its its present occupation of 4 lakh sft. Other than some modifications here and there, there is no need to waste few hundreds of crores of rupees to demolish and reconstruct new secretariat, citing vaasthu defects. Vaasthu, poojas & religion are personal beliefs and there is no place in government's activities, in a democratic and secular India.

In TS, KCR unveiled so many fancy projects completion of which requires several lakhs of crores and nothing much has happened on the ground. In AP, except Pattiseema LI project, Capital shifting and Amaravati's some progress, rest is ditto. This is not what is expected by Telugu people in both the states.

See the simplicity of Prime Minister of Singapore during Narendra Modi's recent visit.
After speaking at the 37th Singapore Lecture at the Shangri-La on Monday (Nov 23, 2015), Mr Modi was taken on an impromptu tour of Singapore by PM Lee and Madam Ho Ching shared a meal at Komala Vilas, the popular vegetarian restaurant located at Upper Serangoon Road.

   

Business went on as usual on the restaurant's second floor, but the first floor was occupied only by Mr Modi, Mr Lee and Ms Ho during the meal due to security concerns. They were served idli, vadai and the restaurant's famous onion and masala thosai and accompanied by traditional Indian drinks - sweet yoghurt lassi, mango lassi and lime juice. Total bill might not exceed Singapore $ 100.

When will our leaders learn that simplicity is the greatest ornament.

One will always be remembered for simplicity and never for extravaganza.

Also we have a jewel in Indian Politics Mr.Manik Sarkar, CM of Tripura since 1998 known for his simple living and honesty.

TS and AP demands fresh allocations of Krishna river water.

KWDT II (Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal) II headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar in its award of 2010 allocated, over and above assured waters at 65% dependability allocated by KWDT I by Justice RS Bachavat during 1973, at 75% dependability and entire average availability of 2578 TMC as against 2060 TMC allocated by KWDT I without setting up any mechanism to ensure lower riparian states get their rightful share of waters at all times. This was contested in Supreme Court by AP and TS by an SLP (Special Leave Petition). In India, rivers being a state subject upper riparian states have natural advantages and lower riparian states suffer as reflected by 2015 Krishna river inflows into AP & TS at meager 80 TMC against usual 1000-1500 TMC in a good year. While Maharashtra and Karnataka dams were full AP & TS dams were empty with no crop in Krishna delta unheard over the past 150 years and unable to even meet drinking water needs.

While Bachavat tribunal was considerate towards lower riparian state of AP (including TS) by allowing unallocated and surplus waters to them with the contention they would suffer floods as well as lean year less inflows. While AP and TS were entangled in bifurcation issues, Maharashtra & Karnataka were able to convince Brijesh Kumar tribunal and get entire waters allocated depriving AP and TS (2578-2060=528-201) to the tune of 327 TMC of water. This has dealt deadly blow to several projects under construction to lift Srisailam waters to drought prone Rayalaseema and Mahboobnagar & Nalgonda districts dependent on unallocated surplus waters (while allocated waters are hardly sufficient for Krishna delta and NS Dam command area users).

The objective of Tribunal and River Water Management Board is to regulate upper riparian state(s) and ensure lower riparian state(s) gets their rightful shares of waters at all times.

Riparian rights, briefly are:
1. The right of a riparian owner to appropriate the water is limited to its use for such purpose, to such an extent and in such a way as will not be inconsistent with a similar use by the lower owners.
2. River waters shall be used with in the basin only.
3. The reasonable use of the water by a riparian owner is subject to the downstream riparian owners 'riparian right' to receive waters undiminished in flow and quality.
4. The doctrine of equitable apportionment alone, however, establishes only the equal right of each riparian to an equitable share in the benefits of the river.
5. Whenever new state were to come into existence will be on an "equal footing" with the original states.

Hence TS and AP's contention that consequent to formation of Telangana State during 2014, Krishna waters allocation must start afresh listening to all states contentions afresh including new state of Telangana is consistent with the general principles of riparian rights.However, central government submitting its view as the matter should be apportioned between AP and TS is not only contrary to general principles of riparian rights but also devoid of any merit.

Finally Pattiseema waters diversion can't be shared with Krishna water allottees for the following reasons:-
1. Pattiseema LI scheme diverts Godavari flood waste waters, not allocated waters.
2. Pattiseema is not a gravity flow project but an Lift Irrigation project involving huge capital & operational expenses.
3. Pattiseema is a purely AP state's temporary project and would get closed once Polavaram project becomes operational at a later date.
4. Pattiseema LI scheme was neither funded by Centre nor by Planning Commission.
5. As and when Polavaram becomes operational, quantity of Godavari waters diverted to Krishna basin, will definitely be shared with Krishna riparian rights owners i.e. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.