Earlier in the day, five Union ministers from Andhra Pradesh's Seemandhra region met BJP leader L K Advani to seek his party's support for a package for the region following the decision to create a separate Telangana state, and were asked by the latter not to protest over the issue in Parliament and not not defy parliamentary traditions by protesting in the Well of the House and to maintain decorum.
They also raised the issue of “selective” suspensions of members with the BJP leader. Arun Jaitley later said that when the issue of their state is being reorganised, all members from Andhra Pradesh ought to be present in the House. “Nobody can question our commitment for creation of Telangana, but, at the same time, you have to address the concerns of Seemandhra,” Naidu said. He said since the entire development is focussed around Hyderabad, adequate financial support be given to Seemandhra region to set up its new capital.
The BJP leader said the residual state of Andhra Pradesh will not have enough money to meet the salary, pension and interest rate liability.
“What is going to happen is that Andhra Pradesh is burdened with 60 per cent population while its income will be 40 per cent of the present united state,” he said, adding that the income from Hyderabad will be going to the other side and a balance needed to be maintained.
He said while VAT collection from coastal Andhra was Rs 5,567 crore, which is 13 per cent of the state, that from Rayalseema was Rs 1,117 crore (3 per cent) and that from Telangana was Rs 3,433 crore which was 8 per cent of the total, against a whopping Rs 31,943 crore from Hyderabad alone which was 76 per cent of the total.
“These are serious issues that need to be discussed,” he said, noting that revenue deficit of rest of Telangana, excluding Hyderabad, will be of Rs 8,407 crore.
