K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR,) the Chief Minister of Telangana, on the 4th of October, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s residence in Delhi.
During the hour long meeting, KCR discussed the various issues in Telangana and submitted memorandums seeking financial assistance from the Central Government. The Telangana CM urged the Central Government to provide funds for Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha, two projects recommended by the NITI Aayog. The NITI Aayog planning committee recommended Rs. 5,000 crores for Mission Kakatiya and Rs. 19,205 crores for Mission Bhagiratha.
KCR also demanded funds worth Rs. 450 crores for the backward districts in Telangana, under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. In addition, K. Chandrashekar Rao asked the Central Government to increase the number of Telangana High Court judges from 24 to 42.
KCR’s other major demands were:
- The establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM.)
- Approval of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER.)
- Approval of 23 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV) in the new districts of Telangana and allocation of funds for the same.
- Completion of pending railway projects in Telangana
- A steel plant to be set up at Bayyaram in Khammam district, under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
- Funds for National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) at Zaheerabad in Medak district.
- Development of the Hyderabad-Nagpur and Warangal-Hyderabad industrial corridors.
- Funds under the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for upgrading 4,000 km for better road connectivity in backward regions.
Mr. Rao also requested to set up a National Institute of Design (NID) in Hyderabad, which was shifted to Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP) after the bifurcation of the two Telugu States in 2014.
KCR concluded his list of demands with a request to Modi and asked him to ensure the sub categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and increase the reservation in education and employment sector. KCR asked the Central Government to provide 37 % reservation for Backward Classes (BCs,) 15 % for SCs and 10 % for Scheduled Tribes (STs.)
Apart from the reservation for the BCs, SCs and STs, KCR also asked 33 % reservation for OBCs and women in Parliament and State Legislatures.
During his Delhi visit, KCR also met Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India and Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India.
Stay tuned for further updates.
