Hyderabad: YSR Congress will take up the Special Category Status (SCS) in the ensuing parliament session as it is the lifeline of the people, contrary to the statements that the issue is a closed chapter, party MPs have said.

Speaking to reporters after the Parliamentary Party meeting presided by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Saturday, Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy said: ‘our stand has been very clear from the beginning that SCS is the only way out for development and special package is only a compromise and not a substitute .

It was TDP and BJP that have shifted the stand from SCS to special package but we have been very firm on the issue and our leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has held numerous protests, including dharnas and fasts and public meetings demanding SCS.

TDP on the other hand has shifted its stand and looks like it has settled for special package, which is not a match to SCS. We oppose that and will settle for nothing short of SCS and strongly condemn the leaders propagating that Special Status is a closed chapter.

YSRCP leaders with Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy

It is not a closed chapter but a burning issue. As more and more educated youth are coming out year after year seeking employment it is only the SCS that can encourage investors to set up industries that will create jobs.

SCS was assured on the floor of the House and the Government cannot go back on that and Prime Minister Narender Modi should see to it that the issue is resolved despite the lack of interest from Chandrababu Naidu. Funds drop into Chief Minister’s account under special package which can be diverted while in case of SCS, the funds are earmarked for that purpose which makes all the difference, he said.

We will pursue with our demand for SCS and other assurances made in the State Reorganization Act, he along with MPs YV Subba Reddy, V Vijaysai Reddy has said.

When asked about the anti-defection law, they said, the party stand has been very clear and on demonetization they said that the Party has reacted and the only concern is that the common man should not suffer in the process.