YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan has categorically blamed both the BJP and TDP for the denial of promised `Special Category Status` to Andhra Pradesh.Reddy, who was speaking at a massive rally organized by his party at the Jantar Mantar here today, also pointed out that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was shedding crocodile tears for the people of AP after ignoring the plight of its people for over 19 months now.
Reddy wondered as to why the BJP, which had demanded 10 years of special status to Andhra Pradesh before coming to power, was refusing to accord the same now. He said that instead of finding new excuses to deny Special Status, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should invoke his powers as chairman of the National Development Council to grant promised special status as NDC had full powers to do the same.”Only National Development Council has such powers (to grant special status to states) and it is chaired by Prime Minister himself. As chairman of National Development Council prime Minister can take a decision.
What is stopping the Prime Minister from according special status to Andhra Pradesh?” asked Reddy.He also pointed out that Andhra Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was keeping quiet over the matter and refusing to pressurise the Centre as he was too scared and too busy trying to save himself in the recent case of corruption .
“Why is Chandrababu Naidu not playing a proactive role and why is he throwing a deaf ear to the demand of people of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu tried to buy eight TRS MLAs by spending Rs 150 crore and one of its MLAs was caught red-handed while trying to bribe a TRS MLC. Fearing an arrest in the vote for note scam, he is remaining silent to save himself at the cost of the interests of Andhra Pradesh state and its people,” said Reddy.
Reddy also blamed the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for first dividing the state, later ignoring its plight for long and now shedding crocodile tears over the matter.”Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi never found time to visit Andhra Pradesh during the last 15 months, never raised the issue of special status. Rahul Gandhi is the culprit and now he surprisingly extending support. Is it not the Congress which divided the state,” he said.The YSR Congress Party chief also pointed out that Special Status for Andhra is surely needed to give a push to the stalled development activities in the state which has suffered a big blow due to the bifurcation.CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechuri was also present at the venue to lend his support for the cause and he condemned the Union Government for denying Special Status to Andhra.”I, as a person, and my party CPM fully support to the cause for which YSRCP is fighting.
We are the only party, who opposed the AP Reorganization bill in parliament. The BJP, which was in opposition during that time had supported our reason, and promised to give special status to Andhra Pradesh if they come into the power. Now, it`s almost a year over, they have forgotten the special status. The Union Government is not looking into the matters related to the division. We condemn the Union government`s action. We condemn this in Parliament also,” said Yechuri.The dharna was attended by thousands of YSR Congress Party supporters and elected representatives who had come all the way from all nooks and corners of Andhra Pradesh to join the protest with their leader.
