AP may not get special status: Diwakar Reddy

Anantapur: Telugu Desam Party's MP from Anantapur J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who is known for daring to be outspoken, here said the NDA government could deny the special category status to Andhra Pradesh (AP). Speaking to media persons, Diwakar Reddy explained that efforts made by all the state MPs have failed and the NDA government appears to be ignoring the issue of granting the special category status to AP. He said, though Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Ministers from the state were doing their best to convince the central government on the issue, the Modi government, however, seems to be reluctant. Stating that he was even prepared to resign to put pressure on the Modi government on the special category status, Diwakar Reddy said, "But the Union government seems hardly bothered given its absolute majority in the Lok Sabha." Speaking on the issue of land pooling in the capital region, the TDP leader said he was against acquiring agriculture land for the purpose. "We should look at alternatives,” he suggested.