VIJAYAWADA: YSR Congress (YSRC) MPs met President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday and submitted a representation on behalf of the party chief and Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
In his representation, the YSRC chief requested the President to prevail upon the Central government to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh without which, he said, the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh can never prosper.
Explaining how injustice was done to Andhra Pradesh at the time of State bifurcation, he said granting Special Category Status to the residuary AP was the precondition. It was agreed to by then prime minister Manmohan Singh, who announced the same on the Floor of Rajya Sabha during the debate on the AP Reorganisation Bill.
He said it was ratified by then Opposition parties and BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu even stressed the need for giving SCS to AP for 10 years. Subsequently, it was approved by the Union Cabinet and the Planning Commission was directed to implement it. “However, after coming to power, both BJP and TDP started watering down the issue and talks of Special Financial Assistance (Special Package) came into the scene. Though the issue was pending with the Planning Commission for seven months before NITI Aayog came into existence, neither NDA nor TDP made any attempts to pursue the matter of SCS,” he said.
Explaining the importance of SCS to Andhra Pradesh, Jaganmohan Reddy in his representation, said it means more investments, jobs and opportunities to lakhs of youth in Andhra Pradesh. He reminded that by losing Hyderabad to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh has lost business and job opportunities.
Referring to the increasing debt burden, which at present stands at a whopping Rs 2.2 lakh crore, Jaganmohan Reddy said AP cannot survive without SCS. He explained the efforts made by YSRC in the last four years including notices for no-confidence motion and indefinite fast by his party MPs which was foiled by the Delhi police.
“The President gave a patient hearing and promised to do what he can within the limits of the Constitution,” YSRC MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy said after meeting the President.
Quote 1
However, after coming to power, both BJP and TDP started watering down the issue and talks of Special Financial Assistance (Special Package) came into the scene. Though the issue was pending with the Planning Commission for seven months before NITI Aayog came into existence, neither NDA nor TDP made any attempts to pursue the matter of SCS
YS Jaganmohan Reddy, YSRC president
Quote 2 (Panel)
The President gave a patient hearing and promised to do what he can within the limits of the Constitution
Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, YSRC MP