<p>The TDP on Wednesday night decided to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre and asked two of its ministers in the Modi government to tender their resignation but kept the door for ties with the BJP ajar.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020">Also read: Will give money equivalent </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020">of</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020"> special status to Andhra Pradesh, says&nbsp;Arun Jaitley</a></p>

<p>The TDP took the painful decision in the interest of the state as it was left with no other option, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at an emergency press briefing.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It&#39;s a crucial time.<br />
We have to stand, we have to fight, we have to get it done.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971447691489239040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The two ministers in the Modi government are Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary.</p>

<p>In a tit-for-tat action, the two BJP ministers in the Naidu government--K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao--too announced their decision to quit.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I tried reaching out to the Prime Minister to inform him about our decision. But sadly, he was unavailable.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971446399316385792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state, he said.</p>

<p>The TDP has 16 MPs in the Lok Sabha.</p>

<p>Naidu&#39;s announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money.</p>

<p>We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later, he added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am not angry with anyone. This decision has been taken only to benefit the people of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971446279287988224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Jaitley said giving special category status, as demanded by Naidu, to any state apart from those in the North-East and three hill provinces were not constitutionally possible after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.</p>

<p>For special category status category states, the Centre meets 90 per cent of the funds required in a centrally sponsored scheme as against 60 per cent in case of normal category states. The remaining funds are provided by the state governments.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Centre has been taking one sided decisions and our patience has run out now. When the purpose of joining the union cabinet hasn&rsquo;t been fulfilled, it&rsquo;s best to resign now.</p>
&mdash; N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncbn/status/971446230088691712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Naidu said Jaitley&#39;s announcement was the &quot;last straw&quot; for the TDP. Naidu had repeatedly insisted on special category state status for Andhra Pradesh following mounting pressure from the opposition.</p>

<p>Jaitley&#39;s statement was nothing but insulting us, he maintained.</p>

<p>&#39;&#39;I made every effort to get our issues resolved by the Centre in the last four years. I told them about the people&#39;s sentiment and tried to convince them in every manner but to no avail, he said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We&rsquo;ve waited enough. We&rsquo;ve believed in false promises enough. Our ministers are resigning from the Union Cabinet. We will do whatever it takes to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh.</p>
&mdash; Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/naralokesh/status/971437418027995136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>They (Centre) are with a predetermination and there appears to be no way they will help us. Under such inevitable circumstances, we have decided to come out of the NDA, Naidu said, after a three-hour teleconference with party MPs and state ministers following Jaitley&#39;s assertions.</p>

<p>He said the TDP joined the NDA government only to protect the state&#39;s interests following its bifurcation but claimed the Centre was taking unilateral decisions without thinking about the solutions to the state&#39;s problems.</p>

<p>The chief minister said he tried to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone as a courtesy to inform him about the decision to pull out of the NDA government. It is my responsibility as a coalition partner to inform the prime minister about our party decision. My OSD spoke to his OSD but the prime minister did not come online, he said.</p>

<p>Naidu hoped the Centre would at least now respect the sentiments of people of Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>


The TDP took the painful decision in the interest of the state as it was left with no other option, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at an emergency press briefing.

The TDP on Wednesday night decided to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre and asked two of its ministers in the Modi government to tender their resignation but kept the door for ties with the BJP ajar. Also read: Will give money equivalent of special status to Andhra Pradesh, says Arun Jaitley The TDP took the painful decision in the interest of the state as it was left with no other option, party chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said at an emergency press briefing. It's a crucial time. We have to stand, we have to fight, we have to get it done. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × The two ministers in the Modi government are Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary. In a tit-for-tat action, the two BJP ministers in the Naidu government--K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao--too announced their decision to quit. I tried reaching out to the Prime Minister to inform him about our decision. But sadly, he was unavailable. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × "When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state, he said. The TDP has 16 MPs in the Lok Sabha. Naidu's announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money. We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later, he added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future. I am not angry with anyone. This decision has been taken only to benefit the people of Andhra Pradesh. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × Jaitley said giving special category status, as demanded by Naidu, to any state apart from those in the North-East and three hill provinces were not constitutionally possible after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations. For special category status category states, the Centre meets 90 per cent of the funds required in a centrally sponsored scheme as against 60 per cent in case of normal category states. The remaining funds are provided by the state governments. The Centre has been taking one sided decisions and our patience has run out now. When the purpose of joining the union cabinet hasn’t been fulfilled, it’s best to resign now. — N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018 × Naidu said Jaitley's announcement was the "last straw" for the TDP. Naidu had repeatedly insisted on special category state status for Andhra Pradesh following mounting pressure from the opposition. Jaitley's statement was nothing but insulting us, he maintained. ''I made every effort to get our issues resolved by the Centre in the last four years. I told them about the people's sentiment and tried to convince them in every manner but to no avail, he said. We’ve waited enough. We’ve believed in false promises enough. Our ministers are resigning from the Union Cabinet. We will do whatever it takes to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh. — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) March 7, 2018 × They (Centre) are with a predetermination and there appears to be no way they will help us. Under such inevitable circumstances, we have decided to come out of the NDA, Naidu said, after a three-hour teleconference with party MPs and state ministers following Jaitley's assertions. He said the TDP joined the NDA government only to protect the state's interests following its bifurcation but claimed the Centre was taking unilateral decisions without thinking about the solutions to the state's problems. The chief minister said he tried to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone as a courtesy to inform him about the decision to pull out of the NDA government. It is my responsibility as a coalition partner to inform the prime minister about our party decision. My OSD spoke to his OSD but the prime minister did not come online, he said. Naidu hoped the Centre would at least now respect the sentiments of people of Andhra Pradesh.

TDP pulls out of NDA government, keeps door for alliance with BJP ajar

<p>The two TDP ministers who resigned Thursday from Prime Minister Modi&#39;s cabinet said today that they would continue to be part of the NDA but that they would not take up any ministerial positions. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The two ministers &mdash; Ashok Gajapathi Raju who was civil aviation minister, and YS Chowdary who was minister of state for science and technology &mdash; addressed a press conference after meeting with the prime minister. The two had been ordered yesterday by TDP chief and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu to resign from the union cabinet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I don&#39;t think it&#39;s fair on our part to expect PM to deal with these issues. It&#39;s for the concerned ministries to take up, already considerable amount of time has lapsed,&quot; said Chowdary.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I don&#39;t think it&#39;s fair on our part to expect PM to deal with these issues. It&#39;s for the concerned ministries to take up, already considerable amount of time has lapsed: YS Choudhary,TDP <a href="https://t.co/tAt0Tu4iBs">pic.twitter.com/tAt0Tu4iBs</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971735645415763969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Chowdary was also asked whether the BJP might now tie up with the YSR Congress Party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;That is between those two parties, we have nothing to say on that, you can ask them,&quot; said Chowdary.&nbsp;</p>


The two union ministers were Ashok Gajapathi Raju who was civil aviation minister, and YS Chowdary who was minister of state for science and technology

The two TDP ministers who resigned Thursday from Prime Minister Modi's cabinet said today that they would continue to be part of the NDA but that they would not take up any ministerial positions. The two ministers — Ashok Gajapathi Raju who was civil aviation minister, and YS Chowdary who was minister of state for science and technology — addressed a press conference after meeting with the prime minister. The two had been ordered yesterday by TDP chief and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu to resign from the union cabinet. "I don't think it's fair on our part to expect PM to deal with these issues. It's for the concerned ministries to take up, already considerable amount of time has lapsed," said Chowdary. I don't think it's fair on our part to expect PM to deal with these issues. It's for the concerned ministries to take up, already considerable amount of time has lapsed: YS Choudhary,TDP pic.twitter.com/tAt0Tu4iBs — ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2018 × Chowdary was also asked whether the BJP might now tie up with the YSR Congress Party. "That is between those two parties, we have nothing to say on that, you can ask them," said Chowdary.

Not fair to expect PM to deal with these issues: TDP ministers who resigned from Modi's cabinet

<p>The Congress Wednesday said that the TDP&#39;s decision to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre was &quot;too little, too late&quot; as it &quot;has done nothing&quot; to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh in the past four years.</p>

<p>&#39;&#39;This is too little and too late. The TDP has been an ally of the BJP for four years now and has done nothing to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh,&quot; senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and former union minister MM Pallam Raju said.</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020">Will give money equivalent </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020">of</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/finance-minister-arun-jaitley-promises-funds-equivalent-of-special-status-to-andhra-pradesh-35020"> special status to Andhra Pradesh says Arun Jaitley</a></p>

<p>His remarks came soon after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu, in a late night press conference, announced that his party&#39;s two central ministers -- Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary -- would resign from the government tomorrow.</p>

<p>Raju said the TDP has &quot;abandoned&quot; the interests of the state and that &#39;&#39;this is political posturing in view of the prevailing public mood&#39;&#39;.</p>

<p>Another Congress leader, when asked if the TDP pull-out of the NDA could create any potential of understanding with the Congress, said there was no such possibility.</p>

<p>For all these years the Congress has been struggling to secure what is rightfully the due of the state and the TDP has &quot;sacrificed&quot; the state&#39;s interests and is now indulging in political posturing. &quot;Pulling out ministers from the government means nothing,&quot; the party leader said.</p>

<p>Commenting on the development, CPI leader D Raja said, &quot;This clearly shows cracks have appeared in NDA...It needs to be seen what Naidu does after this.&quot;</p>

<p>Political parties in Andhra Pradesh have been demanding special category status for the state after Telangana was carved out of it in 2014.</p>

<p>Naidu&#39;s announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra</p>

<p>Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money.</p>

<p>We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later,&nbsp;Naidu added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future.</p>

<p>&quot;When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state,&nbsp;he said.</p>


The remarks came soon after N Chandrababu Naidu announced that his party's two central ministers -- Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary -- would resign from the government

The Congress Wednesday said that the TDP's decision to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre was "too little, too late" as it "has done nothing" to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh in the past four years. ''This is too little and too late. The TDP has been an ally of the BJP for four years now and has done nothing to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh," senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and former union minister MM Pallam Raju said. Also read: Will give money equivalent of special status to Andhra Pradesh says Arun Jaitley His remarks came soon after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu, in a late night press conference, announced that his party's two central ministers -- Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary -- would resign from the government tomorrow. Raju said the TDP has "abandoned" the interests of the state and that ''this is political posturing in view of the prevailing public mood''. Another Congress leader, when asked if the TDP pull-out of the NDA could create any potential of understanding with the Congress, said there was no such possibility. For all these years the Congress has been struggling to secure what is rightfully the due of the state and the TDP has "sacrificed" the state's interests and is now indulging in political posturing. "Pulling out ministers from the government means nothing," the party leader said. Commenting on the development, CPI leader D Raja said, "This clearly shows cracks have appeared in NDA...It needs to be seen what Naidu does after this." Political parties in Andhra Pradesh have been demanding special category status for the state after Telangana was carved out of it in 2014. Naidu's announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money. We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later, Naidu added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future. "When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state, he said.

TDP pull-out of Modi government too little, too late: Congress

<p>The government does not want Air India to become defunct like the Kingfisher Airlines, promoted by embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, and wants it to serve the nation, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on Thursday.</p>

<p>The government does not want anyone working in Air India to lose job, Raju said in the Lok Sabha, adding that the disinvestment process of the national carrier has been initiated.</p>

<p>&quot;Nobody wants anyone to become unemployed. We don&#39;t want Air India to go the Kingfisher (Airlines) way. We want the Air India to serve the nation, to serve the people and fly high,&quot; he said during the Question Hour.</p>

<p>The minister said a ministerial committee headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is looking into the matter of disinvestment of Air India and anyone, including MPs, are welcome to give their suggestions to this panel.</p>

<p>On June 28, the Union Cabinet had cleared disinvestment of debt-laden Air India but the final modalities, including the quantum of stake sale, would be decided by a group of ministers headed by the finance minister.</p>

<p>Surviving on taxpayers&#39; money, Air India has been in the red for long and various proposals, including government think-tank Niti Aayog&#39;s recommendation for complete privatisation, have been made.</p>

<p>The airline has a debt of more than Rs 52,000 crore and is surviving on a Rs 30,000 crore bailout package extended by the erstwhile UPA government in 2012.</p>

<p>The Kingfisher Airlines was established in 2003 by Mallya. The air carrier was suspended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation after it failed to address the regulator&#39;s concerns about its operations.</p>

<p>Kingfisher Airlines also defaulted on loans from various Indian banks amounting to Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya left the country for the UK after failing to repay the debt.&nbsp;</p>


The airline has a debt of more than Rs 52,000 crore and is surviving on a Rs 30,000 crore bailout package extended by the erstwhile UPA government in 2012.

The government does not want Air India to become defunct like the Kingfisher Airlines, promoted by embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, and wants it to serve the nation, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on Thursday. The government does not want anyone working in Air India to lose job, Raju said in the Lok Sabha, adding that the disinvestment process of the national carrier has been initiated. "Nobody wants anyone to become unemployed. We don't want Air India to go the Kingfisher (Airlines) way. We want the Air India to serve the nation, to serve the people and fly high," he said during the Question Hour. The minister said a ministerial committee headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is looking into the matter of disinvestment of Air India and anyone, including MPs, are welcome to give their suggestions to this panel. On June 28, the Union Cabinet had cleared disinvestment of debt-laden Air India but the final modalities, including the quantum of stake sale, would be decided by a group of ministers headed by the finance minister. Surviving on taxpayers' money, Air India has been in the red for long and various proposals, including government think-tank Niti Aayog's recommendation for complete privatisation, have been made. The airline has a debt of more than Rs 52,000 crore and is surviving on a Rs 30,000 crore bailout package extended by the erstwhile UPA government in 2012. The Kingfisher Airlines was established in 2003 by Mallya. The air carrier was suspended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation after it failed to address the regulator's concerns about its operations. Kingfisher Airlines also defaulted on loans from various Indian banks amounting to Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya left the country for the UK after failing to repay the debt.

Government doesn't want Air India to go Kingfisher Airlines way: Civil aviation minister

<p>Low-cost carrier SpiceJet on Saturday (December 09) conducted trials for India&#39;s first seaplane in financial capital Mumbai.</p>

<p>Reportedly, the trial is part of the private carrier&#39;s business plan to bring small amphibious planes into operation and promote regional connectivity. India&#39;s Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju attended the trials.</p>

<p>Terming it a &#39;revolutionary change&#39;, Gadkari said these small planes could also help boost tourism in remote parts of the country.</p>

<p>SpiceJet has plans to buy more than 100 amphibian aircrafts from Japan&#39;s Setouchi Holdings for about $400 million and hopes to put them into operations within the next 12 months, media reports said. These planes are capable of taking off and landing in places that lack runways and can work on roads and water.</p>

<p>Last year, India&#39;s aviation ministry launched &quot;Regional Connectivity Scheme&quot; to boost air travel between smaller cities. India is one of the world&#39;s fastest-growing aviation markets, with around 70 million domestic tickets sold annually and passenger numbers rising 20 percent a year.</p>


Terming it a 'revolutionary change', Gadkari said these small planes could also help boost tourism in remote parts of the country.

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet on Saturday (December 09) conducted trials for India's first seaplane in financial capital Mumbai. Reportedly, the trial is part of the private carrier's business plan to bring small amphibious planes into operation and promote regional connectivity. India's Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju attended the trials. Terming it a 'revolutionary change', Gadkari said these small planes could also help boost tourism in remote parts of the country. SpiceJet has plans to buy more than 100 amphibian aircrafts from Japan's Setouchi Holdings for about $400 million and hopes to put them into operations within the next 12 months, media reports said. These planes are capable of taking off and landing in places that lack runways and can work on roads and water. Last year, India's aviation ministry launched "Regional Connectivity Scheme" to boost air travel between smaller cities. India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, with around 70 million domestic tickets sold annually and passenger numbers rising 20 percent a year.

SpiceJet conducts seaplane trial in Mumbai

<p>The Union minister for Civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha have said that the government has designed a draft for a new law which will encourage the use of drones in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The drone has been divided into five categories.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nano drone will not require any permission, however,&nbsp;micro category will need a security clearance and unique identification number.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mini and above category drone will need to comply with all the conditions and regulations.</p>

<p>The government agencies will be able to use the drone without any permission, however, local police and anti-terror squad will have to inform authorities before using the drone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The policy will be implemented by January 1, 2018, MoS Jayant Sinha said.</p>


The government agencies will be able to use the drone without any permission, however, local police and anti-terror squad will have to inform before using the drone

The Union minister for Civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha have said that the government has designed a draft for a new law which will encourage the use of drones in the country. The drone has been divided into five categories. Nano drone will not require any permission, however, micro category will need a security clearance and unique identification number. Mini and above category drone will need to comply with all the conditions and regulations. The government agencies will be able to use the drone without any permission, however, local police and anti-terror squad will have to inform authorities before using the drone. The policy will be implemented by January 1, 2018, MoS Jayant Sinha said.

Government to introduce laws to encourage use of drones