Time for all parties to support Andhra Pradesh's demand for special category status: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi voiced his support for special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

The Gandhi scion took to Twitter in support of long-pending demand of the southern state which was divided into two states -- Telangana and Andhra Pradesh -- towards the fag end of UPA regime in 2014.

"The Congress Party supports the just demands of the people of Andhra Pradesh for special category status and speedy completion of the Polavaram project", Rahul Gandhi tweeted and added that it's time for all parties to unite on this issue and support this call for justice.

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Modi speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address recently lashed out at the Congress and accused the party of "hastily" dividing the southern state for political gains.

"This is your character. You divided India. Even after 70 years of Independence, 125 crore people of India continue to suffer because of the poison you sowed. Not a single day passes when people of India are not punished for your sins," Modi said, speaking in the Lok Sabha.

Modi addressed the House while some Andhra MPs were raising slogans, demanding the financial package for Andhra Pradesh that was promised when Telangana was carved out of it in 2014.

Upset over the budget ignoring the needs of Andhra Pradesh, the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) recently called for a meeting in Amravati to review the party's alliance with the BJP at the centre.

Ahead of that review meeting, speculation was rife that TDP may sever ties with the BJP, However, the party decided to continue its alliance with the BJP at the Centre.

Speaking to reporters after the review meeting, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu asked the Centre to spell out its ‘formula’ for the state with specific timelines,

“The Centre should clearly spell out what it has done for the state in the last four years and what it will do now. It should announce a plan of action with clear timelines,” Naidu said.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu demanded financial support by working out an "extrabudgetary" route to provide funds required for the state's development and reconstruction activities.

“The Centre should clearly spell out what it has done for the state in the last four years and what it will do now. It should announce a plan of action with clear timelines,” Naidu said.

Meanwhile, another NDA partner in Andhra Pradesh, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan also expressed disappointment with the BJP-ruled central government in a recent interview with a television channel.

“The promises that were made, were agreed upon by both the Congress and BJP on the floor of the Parliament. But now, the definition of special status has changed within a few months and it has become a package after the state bifurcation. People want accountability of word given in the Parliament,” the actor said in the interview.