No Compromise on Special Status: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Hyderabad: YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has slammed BJP and TDP for dillydallying on the Special Status, while thanking all sections of the society for participating in the bandh in Andhra Pradesh (AP). He criticized Naidu for diverting the Special Status issue.

YS Jagan has once again reiterated that there wouldn’t be any compromise on Special Status demand and would continue the agitation until the demand is fulfilled. As part of the strategy to intensify the pressure on the Centre, YSRCP has sought appointments from President and Prime Minister.

YS Jagan has once again reiterated that there wouldn’t be any compromise on Special Status demand and would continue the agitation until the demand is fulfilled. As part of the strategy to intensify the pressure on the Centre, YSRCP has sought appointments from President and Prime Minister.

Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has condemned the brutal acts of the police in trying to suppress the people’s participation in the bandh. He wondered how a Chief Minister could use police force to thrash his own people, who were agitating for the State’s cause.

YS Jagan questions Naidu over his changing stance on the demand Recalling the proceedings in Lok Sabha, YS Jagan said YSRCP MPs raised voice in the House in support of special status.

“Arun Jaitely says he spoke to AP Chief Minister. Jaitley also said that the NDA government is working on a package for AP. And this statement made TDP MPs sit silently. At least TDP MPs raised slogans in Parliament, but TDP ministers in state didn’t say any word. This clearly shows how backstabbing politics are now taking place.”

Elaborating the need of special status, YS Jagan said: “Special status is our right. Several industrial units will come up. Our State will get huge business investments and this will create more jobs. That’s why we demand for special status. We continue to fight until we get the special status. We take up several programmes to intensify pressure on the Centre. If there’s no one to demand for special status, the issue would have been part of history by now. We have to keep pressure on the Centre”, he said.

“We have sought appointment from President and Prime Minister. I am hopeful to get appointment from President. We’ll also take up several programmes aimed at getting special status for AP,” said YS Jagan.

Despite resistance from several forces, all sections of people made the AP bandh a success. YS Jagan said: “It’s unfortunate to fight against state govt on the special status demand. Actually, the state government should fight for it. Cutting across party lines, all sections of the society including educational institutions, trade unions, employees’ association, students, NGOs and traders took part in the AP bandh. I am thankful to each and everyone. The State government tried to suppress the bandh with police, but failed as public wholeheartedly supported it. Several people were arrested over participating in the bandh. I thank all my sisters and brothers in the state for supporting the bandh call.”

Slamming Naidu for changing his stance over the special status, YS Jagan said: “Naidu earlier promised on special status, now says it’s not a panacea for the State. Had he (Naidu) been there during the time of freedom struggle, he would have said let’s get freedom whenever Britishers give us or he would have said freedom is not a panacea for India. During today’s bandh, TDP ministers were not seen anywhere. Naidu used entire police force to suppress the bandh call.”

YS Jagan has criticized Naidu’s doublespeak. “Naidu said his blood was boiling after Jaitely statement on the special status in Rajya Sabha. But actually, the blood of five crore AP people is boiling over the backstabbing politics of TDP. “Why is Naidu not raising voice at Centre level?”, questioned YS Jagan.

“In October, Modi visited AP on the occasion of the ground breaking ceremony for the new capital city. Naidu didn’t even mention a word on Special Status in the presence of Modi. Naidu didn’t ask the Prime Minister about special status. But, we observed hunger strikes for seven times since then. How can Chandrababu Naidu bring us special status when he only keeps diverting the issue. If you’re for special status, why did you try to suppress the bandh,” questioned YS Jagan.