Naidu to call on Modi tomorrow to invite him for Pushkarams

Vijayawada: Amid the acrimony generated last week between the TDP and the BJP over granting of special status for Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi tomorrow to invite him for the Krishna Pushkarams beginning August 12.

He will also submit a detailed memorandum seeking special category state status for Andhra Pradesh besides implementation of the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act-2014 and resolution of pending issues, including those under Schedule 9 and 10 of the Act.

Naidu left for the national capital from here this afternoon and will meet Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tonight.

He will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow and invite him for the Krishna Pushkarams, the river festival that is celebrated once in 12 years.

Naidu said he will also invite the Vice-President, Chief Justice of India, judges of Supreme Court and Union Ministers for the event.

Last week, following Jaitley’s statement in Rajya Sabha on the special status issue, Chandrababu said he would not go to New Delhi nor meet the Prime Minister but his party MPs would do the job.

He was highly critical of Jaitley and expressed serious displeasure over the Centre’s stand.

But after Jaitley himself spoke to him over phone a couple of days and “assured” of all central assistance to AP, Naidu apparently mellowed down.

“I will meet the Prime Minister if an appointment is granted,” he said two days ago.

Today, his office received communication from the PMO that the appointment for Naidu’s meeting with Modi has been fixed for 11 am on Friday.

PTI