Special State Status is our right: YS Jagan

Braving all restrictions imposed by the TDP government on the Tuesday conference on the Special State status to Andhra Pradesh at the Andhra University in Vizag, thousands of students turned up. YSRCP chief YS Jagan addressed the students on the issue of special status.

The highlights of his speech are:

• Special status is possible only when the youth take up cudgels. I congratulate the students for turning up in large number despite the umpteen restrictions imposed by the AP Government. I bow before you. I thank all the professors for their valuable comments.
• There is considerable awareness about special state status among the people, especially the students. But, the chief minister, who knows about the benefits of special status, is trying to mislead the people. His ministers are ignorant about it.
• The special status was assured to us by none other than the then prime minister Manmohan Singh at the time of the indiscriminate division of the state. Those who divided AP, knew the problems that residual AP would face. Hyderabad is the IT hub and accounts for 95 per cent of the software jobs. 70 percent of the manufacturing sector is located in Hyderabad.
• The TDP too played its part in dividing the state. Even the TDP had assured to fight for special state status. The BJP went a step ahead and said it would accord special status for 10 years. They repeated this ad nauseum at all election meetings.
• The TDP government had made false promises to the farmers, SHG women and the students. Now, the government had not just reneged on all the promises. IN Vizag alone, over 5000 contract outsourcing jobs were lost. Chandrababu had also assured to give unemployment allowance to the unemployed. Not one has been given the allowance. There were 1.42 lakh vacant government jobs at the time of the division. Not one new job has been created. Over 10000 candidates who took the DSC exam have not been provided jobs.
• Chandrababu has not organized even a single APPSC examination so far. He has not even given the DSC exam calendar.
• Leave alone regional reservations, there are no local reservations. Despite all these, private universities are being brought in. Even the fee reimbursement is being diluted. When the students staged a dharna on this issue at Vizag, they were mercilessly bundled into vans and were packed off.
• He even claims that the World Bank has given second rank for ease of business. This report was prepared for the World Bank by several agencies. I want the people to ask him what he has done for achieving the special state status. If the status is given, AP would become No 1 in the whole country. 
• Special status states will get 90 per cent grants, while non-status states would get only 30 per cent grant. Thus, the special status will ensure teh faster development of the state. The status will also ensure excise tax waiver, income tax waiver and other such benefits. This will attract lot of investers and help in creating more jobs. 
• The government has become highly corrupt. There is corruption in all schemes ranging from Pattiseema project to sand reach auction. The money so gotten is being used to buy MLAs for MLC election. To escape from this cash for votes scam case, he is prostrating before the BJP government. 
• Only YSRCP is fearless and is fighting for the state's welfare. The TDP is now trying to say that special status is no panacea. He says a special package is enough. During the division, Polavaram project was promised. There were other promises too. The value of all these promises has been quantified as a package. This is nothing but duping the people. When Chandrababu comes hear, counter him on this. Now even Polavaram is being diluted citing objections from other states. 
• Excuses like objections from planning commission or Niti Ayog are untenable. Their job is only to apportion revenues to different states. They would also take care of non-plan component. Special status is an executive decision. When PM heads Niti Ayog, National Development Council as also the union cabinet. So, it is the prime minister who has to accord the special status. Instead of fighting the PM, the CM is trying to whitewash Centre's mistakes. 
• Uttarakhand benefited because of special status. There were 490 per cent rise in employment. Himachal had 10000 new industries. Hence, we need special status. In such event, we can optimally use the coastline 
• I appeal to the students to go through the websites and learn about the special status. Armed with this information, please counter Chandrababu Naidu. The YSRCP website all details and we are now planning to launch an indefinite fast from September 26. But, this cannot be a one-man's effort. Everyone should come together and achieve this.
• Special status is not an alm or a dole. It is our right and we shall achieve this.