Hyderabad: As Telangana celebrated the 3rd State Formation Day with great fanfare, a colourful ceremonial parade and remembering the sacrifices during the long struggle, a contrasting sombre mood prevailed in truncated Andhra Pradesh.

It was on this day in 2014 that Telangana was born as the 29th state following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh through an act of Parliament.

While Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recalled the history of struggle and sacrifices and claimed that the dream of a “Bangaru Telangana” (Golden Telangana) was being realised through rapid development and over-all welfare of the people, in Vijayawada, the makeshift capital of truncated Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu termed it a “Black Day” and said that the state was yet to recover from the loss caused by the division.

In Hyderabad, KCR paid tributes at the Martyrs Memorial opposite the state assembly before hoisting the flag and taking salute at the ceremonial parade at Secunderabad Parade Grounds. On the occasion, KCR listed out at the achievements of his three-year rule including making the new state power surplus and waiving Rs170 billion (Dh9.7 billion) loans of farmers, pensions to four million people among others.

He said that the biggest achievement was ensuring the welfare of all sections of society through various schemes. The government will launch a new scheme on Saturday under which every pregnant woman will get an assistance of Rs12,000 in three instalments. Under this scheme, kits with essential items required for pregnant women would be distributed.

“The government is spending Rs450 billion on 35 different welfare schemes,” he said.

He also promised that the farmers will start getting 24-hour power supply from the next agriculture season and 24-hour drinking water supply to every household by the end of the year.

Referring to the CAG report that the Telangana was number one state in the country in the increase in tax revenue by 17.82 per cent, KCR said that it was matter of great pride for the people of the state.

“We are making rapid progress towards realising the dreams and aspirations of the people,” he said.

“I am happy to announce that our state has become a model for all in not only creating assets, but also ensuring that the resources are distributed in an equitable manner and ensuring social justice to all the people, and the benefits of development reach the weakest sections,” he said.

On the other hand, Chandrababu Naidu while participating in “Navnirmana Deeksha” (pledge for the reconstruction of the state) in Vijayawada, lashed out at the Congress party and its leader Sonia Gandhi for the manner in which Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated during the UPA rule. He repeated his old allegation that Sonia Gandhi had chosen June 2 for the bifurcation of the state as it was National Day of Italy.

“Everybody should remember the losses we have suffered on account of bifurcation and dedicate ourselves for the development of the state,” he said.

Recalling that his government had started from scratch in the new state as it lacked the necessary infrastructure including its own capital, Naidu said that building a city like Hyderabad would cost Rs500 billion.

He vowed that by overcoming all the challenges and obstacles Andhra Pradesh would emerge as the topmost state in the country by 2029 and by 2050 it will become the most developed state in the entire world.