AP Bandh on August 2: YS Jagan calls upon everyone to rise above politics on Special Status

Hyderabad: Cutting across party lines, YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has appealed to the people of Andhra Pradesh to participate in the state-wide bandh on August 2. He called upon the trade unions, associations, political parties and organizations to come forward to make the bandh aimed at forcing the Central Government to grant special state status to Andhra Pradesh a grand success.

Criticizing Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his total failure in achieving special status to the state, YS Jagan has said that the TDP was duping the people of the state and wanted everyone to unite against the fraud, deceit and corruption of the TDP regime.

Speaking to the media here on Saturday, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said: “Chandrababu Naidu is mired in corruption. His corruption is of the order of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. He has also been involved in the Cash for Vote scam and only to escape from this scam, he is not raising his voice against the BJP Government on the issue of special status.”

YS Jagan has referred a recent report by prestigious national institution NCAER (National Council for Applied Economics and Research), which ranked AP as the most corrupt state in the country.

YS Jagan has referred a recent report by prestigious national institution NCAER (National Council for Applied Economics and Research), which ranked AP as the most corrupt state in the country. Expressing dismay over the way the discussion on special status in Rajya Sabha was done during the past two days, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has criticized the TDP for failing to pressurise the NDA Government.

Special Status is above all for AP

TDP has colluded with BJP in harming the interests of people. “Being part of the NDA, why can’t TDP put pressure on the Centre, he questioned. YS Jagan has found the fault with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for deviating the issue from the core focus as special status would enable states to get 90 percent of the funds as against 40 percent in normal way.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said: “The question is not the variation in percentage of funds states receive from the Centre. Special status is something different as it can transform AP into a highly industrialized state. The percentage variation in special status or normal conditions is a small issue. Why special status is important for AP is that it gives 100 percent exemption from the Excise Duty and I-T. This will help AP get business investments. We can gethuge investments. We can see rapid industrialization in the state. It can create numerous jobs for the youth. That’s why we’re demanding for status.”

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy replayed the recorded speech of Modi given by Modi at Tirupati during the elections, where he promised special state status, and charged the NDA with reneging on the poll promise. “I expected Chandrababu Naidu to give a strong ultimatum to the NDA government. But, he is not doing so and is ditching the people of the State, Chandrababu Naidu has changed tack after he was found involved in the Cash for Votes scam,”YS Jagan said.

Highlighting the three decisions announced at the time of bifurcation, YS Jagan said that one was special status, the second to transfer Polavaram submergence mandals to Andhra Pradesh and the third is on sharing electricity.

“The 13th Finance Commission was effective till 2015. Niti Aayog came in place of the Planning Commission in December 2015. But, all these days, Chandrababu did nothing. The file on special state status is lying with the Planning commission all these days and Chandrababu did precious little,”he said.

In view of August 2 Bandh, the districts tour of YS Jagan has been cancelled and the party will announce a fresh schedule later.