CPI, CPI (M) Extend Support to YSRCP on Special Status

Hyderabad: Demanding special status to Andhra Pradesh, both the left parties CPI (M) and CPI extended support to YSRCP in its fight for getting assurance given in Parliament. YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has been meeting several leaders of political parties garnering the support to his fight for special category status to AP.

YS Jaganmohan Reddy met CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI National Secretary D Raja in New Delhi seeking support on special status issue. YS Jagan said that YSRCP along with left parties would intensify the agitation for getting special status.

Sitaram Yechury said: “The Centre doesn’t seem to be willing to grant special status to AP. If AP wants the status, it should get prepared for longer agitation. CPM will continue to support the cause as it was promised by the UPA government in Parliament. CPM will participate in all programmes aimed at securing the special status.” Yechury also said that CPM would be working with the YSRCP at the field level to bring pressure on both state and central governments.

YS Jagan has intensified his efforts to mobilize the support of other political parties to build pressure on the NDA government. CPI leader D Raja has also agreed to work with YSRCP to expose the corruption in AP. Raja also extended his support to Jagan. The CPI leader found fault with the Centre for delaying the special status to AP.

Raja said special status was assured in Parliament and the NDA government should grant it to AP. “People will lose confidence in the legislative process if the Centre did not grant special status to AP as promised by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. In fact, BJP leaders Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley demanded special status for 10 years. But, now the BJP is in power and dilly-dallying on the issue without any reason,” criticized Raja.

After meeting two prominent leaders of left parties, YS Jagan spoke to the media. He pointed out that in the post-GST era, the special status will gain even more importance as it results in attracting higher investments and industrialization. He demanded that the Centre take urgent note of the issue.

YS Jagan further said: “Until now, states have power to offer incentives on sales tax. With the passage of the GST Bill, it is now vested with the Centre. Only if a state has special category status, investments will pour in as exemption can be given to attract new industries.”

If AP offers incentives, then only investors would come to the State. Otherwise investments would go to Hyderabad, Chennai or Bengaluru where infrastructure is available. AP is a new state and lacking infrastructure. Hence, special status is inevitable for the State. We’ll fight until we get special status and there’s no compromise on this.” said YS Jagan.