BJP's Siddhartha continues to beguile AP

The BJP in-charge for Andhra Pradesh, Siddhartha Nath Singh, claimed on Wednesday that while not giving the Special Category Status for AP, the State would still be developed as a Special State. Whatever had to be given to AP would continue to be given to the State, he added. Talking to newsmen in Visakhapatnam, Siddhartha announced that the Central ministers would be reviewing the State's progress every fortnight. The State had been accorded Special State focus, he added. He further claimed that instead of the SCS, the Central government was giving AP funds. The Centre had already released Rs 7000 crore funds for the State. In addition, Rs 22,112 crore was being released. Besides, the Polavaram project would be taken up by the Centre. Only with the Central help would AP be developed, he added. Whatever the BJP in-charge is claiming, not much is appearing on the ground. The SCS has its own charm, even if it is implemented in the backward North Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts.