Congress's Jairam Ramesh taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the AIIMS, and IIT inaugurated by the PM in Mangalagiri and Tirupati, respectively, last week, were the projects promised by Manmohan Singh government and that the prime minister is taking credit for it now.
The general secretary in charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh stated, "Both of these institutions (AIIMS, and IIT) were commitments made by the Manmohan Singh government in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Of course, Mr. Modi is now claiming credit."
He then added that the 'real commitment' to Andhra Pradesh would be if the prime minister gives the state "special category status" in order to bolster its financial position as Manmohan Singh committed in the Rajya Sabha in February 2014.
"Dr. Manmohan Singh had committed to this Special Status for a period of five years, and the then BJP front-bencher M. Venkaiah Naidu had got up and declared - '[W]hy only five years? BJP government will give for 10 years. Both Mr. Naidu and Mr. Modi have a lot to answer for, " he then cited.