Contrary to popular belief that AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has much clout in Delhi and rubs shoulders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his counterpart Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao proved more influential in the national capital on Monday.
Post bifurcation of combined AP, there has been a talk in the political circles that AP Chief Minister holds the sway in Delhi than his Telangana counterpart.
Proving critics wrong, Rao had exclusive sessions with national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance minister Arun Jaitley and Water Resources minister Uma Bharti.
All of them responded positively to the demands raised by KCR. Rao explained the progress for Mission Bhagiratha, aimed at ensuring piped water supply to all households in the state in the next three years, to the PM.
Rao invited Modi to attend the launch of the first phase of Mission Bhagiratha, expected to be held either in August or September. He also urged Modi to accord national project status on Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project.
Rao suggested that national project status should be accorded to at least one irrigation project in every state. He also discussed various contentious issues between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
All these issues were discussed in detail with the respective Union ministers later in the day.
Rao called on Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley and also Water Resources minister Uma Bharti.
Uma Bharti heaped praises on the State for taking up ambitious irrigation projects like Mission Kakatiya. She assured to visit the state to study the progress in Mission Kakatiya works. Uma Bharti said that she would recommend all other States too emulate the Mission Kakatiya model taken up by TS.
Source: The New Indian Express