cm Revanth Reddy meeting of PM Modi, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the formation of the new government at the Centre and discussed important issues like ensuring development of the state as well as strengthening its security system.
Revanth Reddy met Modi-Shah
In these meetings, the Chief Minister discussed issues ranging from modernization of the intelligence system to the long-standing division disputes. It is important that Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka was also present during this time. This was the first meeting between Modi and Reddy after taking oath as Prime Minister for the third consecutive time last month.
Deputy CM gave information to the media
“We presented our views to both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and discussed all pending issues. We got a positive response,” Vikramarka told reporters. In his meeting with Modi, Reddy presented an ambitious 10-point agenda for the progress of Telangana. These proposals included allocation of coal blocks to Singareni Collieries Company Limited, revival of the Information Technology Investment Region in Hyderabad, approval of 25 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, inclusion of Telangana in the India Semiconductor Mission and setting up of an Indian Institute of Management in Hyderabad.
What issues were discussed with Modi and Shah?
Apart from these, issues like enhancing infrastructure and connectivity figured prominently during the talks along with requests for allocation of defence land, upgradation of state highways and early construction of a regional ring road. In the meeting with Shah, Reddy sought adequate financial support for the intelligence infrastructure of the southern state.
He requested Rs 88 crore for Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) and Rs 90 crore for Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), stressing the need for state-of-the-art technology to tackle drug-related and cyber crimes. Citing that the current 61 posts allotted during the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh were inadequate, Reddy highlighted the security scenario and pushed for additional 29 IPS posts. He urged for a review of the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre, which was last done in 2016.
CM stressed on strengthening security
Reddy stressed on strengthening security in districts formerly affected by LWE. He sought setting up of security force camps in Adilabad, Mancherial and Komaram Bheem Asifabad districts and requested their restoration under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. Reddy also pitched for CRPF JTF camps at strategic locations on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border to counter Maoist activities. The pending amount of Rs 18.31 crore for Special Police Officers (SPOs) was also on the agenda.
The chief minister also discussed unresolved issues arising out of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He urged both Modi and Shah to find a “harmonious solution” to disputes related to distribution of government buildings, corporations and institutions in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Reorganisation Act. Reddy took over as Telangana chief minister last year after winning the assembly elections in the southern state.