VIJAYAWADA: Finding fault with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for failing to keep the promises he made to the unemployed youth of the State during the run-up to elections, even two-and-half years after coming to power, Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy demanded that Naidu honours his promises.
In an open he letter to Naidu on Wednesday, Jagan reminded the CM about his poll promise of ‘one job to every household’ and unemployment allowance of Rs 2000 per month till the job was provided. “You went from door to door and village to village stating gthat if one has to get job, Babu (Chandrababu Naidu) should become Chief Minister. Pamphlets of the promise with it being endorsed by Narendra Modi and Pawan Kalyan were also distributed to every household,” Jagan recalled and added that he was attaching a copy of the pamphlet with the letter.
It has been 33 months since Naidu assumed office and there are no fora on which he did not repeat his promise, but it never materialised. “I am writing the letter to you reminding you of the poll promise made by you, expecting some response,” he wrote.
Calculating the amount the government would be due to each employee, the YSRC President said that it comes to Rs 66,000 per head and demanded to clear the dues to 1.75 crore households in the State and continue the unemployment allowance. “The total sum the government is due to the unemployed in the State stands at Rs 1.15 lakh crore,” he pointed out.
Criticising the way Naidu used the Kotaiah and Janmabhoomi committees, to dilute the farm loan waiver and social welfare pensions schemes, Jagan wanted the government to at least implement the unemployment scheme in a proper manner. “Since the annual budget is to be presented in another fortnight, substantial allocations should be made in the budget for the unemployment allowance.”
Stating he is not making any undue demands, but only standing facts and reminding the promises made, the Leader of Opposition made it clear that if the government fails to act on his letter and do the needful, he will announce his next course of action.
Incidentally, Jagan’s letter to the Chief Minister of AP happened on the same day when TJAC Chairman Kodandaram launched a scathing attack on the TRS government in Telangana, deploring the negligence of the government in addressing the issue of unemployment and student problems.