With its hands tied over the grant of special category status after the recommendations of the 14{+t}{+h}Finance Commission, the Central government has been treating Andhra Pradesh as a special state, Andhra Pradesh BJP president and MP K. Haribabu has said.

The Finance Commission categorically states that there cannot be any discrimination between “special category” and other states.

SCS will only bring in 90 per cent funds from the Central government with the State government footing the remaining 10 per cent in Central government-sponsored projects. For other states the ration will be 60:40.

In the package, the Central government has announced that the 30 per cent difference would be calculated and funds earmarked to that extent for externally-aided projects, Mr. Haribabu said.