Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office on Monday went into damage control mode after a tweet by one of its top officials on the '75 per cent reservation for locals' issue was reportedly objected to by the NITI Aayog.
The matter relates to the Special Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, P V Ramesh, replying to a Twitter post by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Sunday night over the legislation.
The CMO got into action on Monday to 'mollify" the Aayog by "putting things in perspective", said by a senior bureaucrat here on the condition of anonymity.
The legislation has led the government to be on the defensive as it has generated a lot of adverse reactions, particularly in the industrial sector.
Besides, the state government is already engaged in a face-off with the Centre over the Power Purchase Agreements issue.
Kant tweeted, tagging a news article published in a financial daily on the legislation.
Replying to this, Ramesh had tweeted, asking the CEO to "read the Act and rules being framed".
"With highest regards 2 u, ur comments and FE report r based on incomplete info. There is nothing in the Act that could hurt the 'federal spirit'.While promoting interests of those 'domiciled' in AP, there are enough opportunities 4 those who are not. Read the Act & Rules being framed," the Special Chief Secretary, who is due to retire in two more days, told the Niti Aayog CEO.
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With highest regards 2 u, ur comments & FE report r based on incomplete info. There is nothing in the Act that could hurt ‘federal spirit’. While promoting interests of those ‘domiciled’ in AP, there are enough opportunities 4 those who are not. Read the Act & Rules being framed
— PV Ramesh (@RameshPV2010) July 28, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">With highest regards 2 u, ur comments & FE report r based on incomplete info. There is nothing in the Act that could hurt ‘federal spirit’. While promoting interests of those ‘domiciled’ in AP, there are enough opportunities 4 those who are not. Read the Act & Rules being framed
— PV Ramesh (@RameshPV2010) July 28, 2019With highest regards 2 u, ur comments & FE report r based on incomplete info. There is nothing in the Act that could hurt ‘federal spirit’. While promoting interests of those ‘domiciled’ in AP, there are enough opportunities 4 those who are not. Read the Act & Rules being framed
— PV Ramesh (@RameshPV2010) July 28, 2019
Kant shot back, tweeting "Not my comments. I have quoted from the report & used inverted coma."
On Monday, Niti Aayog officials reportedly took up the issue with the CMO and objected to the tenor of the Special Chief Secretary's tweet to an officer five years senior to him.
Following this, the CMO explained the features of the 75 per cent reservation enactment and said a copy of it would be immediately sent to the Aayog for perusal.
The Bill that was passed by the Assembly on July 24 was passed by the Council on Monday and now has to be cleared by the Governor.
The Bill mandates employment of at least 75 per cent state candidates in the respective units.
The 'local' reservation will extend to industries, factories, joint venture units and projects taken up under Public-Private Partnership initiatives.
