The Andhra Pradesh government, which had been in a dilemma over when to celebrate State Formation Day, has finally decided to observe June 2 - the Appointed Day of Telangana State - as its founding day, but in a different way. The TDP government will consider it as ‘Nava Nirmana Deeksha Day’, during which it will tell the people how they were divided and how injustice was meted out to them. A decision to this effect was taken by the AP Cabinet at a meeting,  chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, at the Secretariat here Monday.

Sources said though several of his colleagues had different views, Naidu favoured ‘Nava Nirmana Deeksha Day’ so as to keep the ‘bitter memories’ of State bifurcation fresh in public mind and at the same time, reinforce the ‘Congress treachery.’

“Congress is now trying to corner us by raking up the issue of special category status. But we don’t want to give them any chance to bounce back in the State. We want the people to always remember how unjustly the Congress had divided AP for its political gains. Hence, we have decided to observe State Formation Day on June 2,” a senior minister told Express.

Briefing reporters after the marathon 10-hour long Cabinet meeting, IT Minister P Raghunatha Reddy said deekshas would be organised on that day at district and mandal headquarters and ministers and public representatives would once again explain to the people the injustice done to the State. Besides, all ministers would tour districts from June 3 to 7 to highlight the welfare programmes taken up by the government in the last one year, he said. According to Reddy, a massive public meeting will also be organised on June 8, the first anniversary of Naidu’s swearing-in, at which the Chief Minister will present his government’s one-year progress report.

Reddy informed that the State Cabinet had also decided to set up an “International Airport Company” for the development of the aviation sector in the State. The company will facilitate the setting up of an Aviation Academy, ancillary manufacturing units and other facilities, he added.

He said the new air terminal building of the Tirupati airport would be inaugurated on June 12 and night landing facility at Rajahmundry airport would be made operational by next month.

Apart from this, the State is planning to develop Greenfield airports at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram, Dagadarthi in Nellore, Orvakallu in Kurnool, Tadepalligudem in West Godavari and Ongole in Prakasam district, he added.

Record-breaking Meet

AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, known for holding lengthy Cabinet meetings, video conferences and reviews, seems to have broken all of his earlier records on Monday. He held the State Cabinet meeting for a mind-boggling 10 hours, testing the patience of his colleagues and senior officials. The meeting began at 10.30 a.m. and ended around 8.00 pm. During the meeting, Naidu is learnt to have reviewed the performance of his colleagues department-wise. Asked about the marathon meeting, Naidu’s deputy Chinna Rajappa, who looked exhausted, told Express with a smile, “We have a workaholic CM, who won’t take rest until AP is put back on track on every front”.

Cabinet Nod to Invoke Land Acquisition Act for Capital

The state government appears to be moving towards invoking the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act-2013) to meet its target of acquiring 35,000 acre for construction of the new capital Amaravati. The State Cabinet, which met here on Monday, is learnt to have discussed the issue of invoking the Land Acquisition Act to takeover lands from the farmers who are reluctant to part with their agricultural lands located in villages that are right on the banks of River Krishna. “So far, we have procured 33,000 acre for the capital. The remaining 2,000 acre will be taken from farmers by invoking the Land Acquisition Act. A notification might be issued on May 14 to this effect,” a minister told Express. Besides this, the Cabinet reportedly gave its nod to the proposed Ordinance, which is aimed at removing TUDA chairman from the list of ex-officio members of the TTD Trust Board and inducting a new member in his place.