YS Jagan’s Fight For AP Special Status Continues Unabated

Vijayawada: YSRCP Chief and Leader of Opposition, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is continuing his relentless fight to get special status for Andhra Pradesh. As part of the efforts, the YSR Congress Party President has embarked on a 6-month long padayatra (walkathon) titled Praja Sankalpa Yatra which touched the 100-day milestone today.

YS Jagan had earlier raised his voice and staged dharnas in the national capital Delhi over Centre's promise to grant special status to Residual Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation.

Under the guidance of Jagan Mohan Reddy, a party cadre on May 19, 2014, met Narendra Modi, who was contesting for the Prime Ministerial post then, and appealed not only for the special status but also to provide financial assistance for the development of the state. Later, in August 2014, YSRCP MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy urged the Centre to grant special status for 30 years. Similarly, in February 2015, YS Jagan on his Delhi tour met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arjun Jaitely and appealed for granting of special status.

In March 2015, during the budget session in Lok Sabha, Rajamohan Reddy, YV Subba Reddy asked the centre to announce Special Category Status for AP and on March 30, a party cadre met Narendra Modi over the same issue. Similarly, in June 2015, party members guided by YS Jagan met Pranab Mukherjee and appealed for granting special category status to AP and providing financial aid as well. YS Jagan met Rajanth Singh again emphasizing the need for SCS and also discussed AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's vote for note scam.

YS Jagan had called for a dharna in Delhi and later on August 29, 2015 AP bandh was declared. In September 2015, YS Jagan participated in Yuva Bheri, a youth outreach initiative on the issue of Special Category Status, which was organised by the students in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. YS Jagan also stressed the need for special status in Yuva Bheri held at Kakinada on January 2016, and at Srikakulam in February 2016. Continuing his relentless fight, YS Jagan in October 2015 undertook a fast for seven days in Guntur demanding SCS for the Telugu state. In order to spread awareness, an indefinite fast was orgainsed from October 17 to 21 in all the districts. In 2016, YS Jagan during his Delhi trip met Pranab Mukherjee and appealed to look into the matter. In April 2016, the YSRCP party workers and leaders met the collectorates in all the districts. The YSRCP extended support to the bill put out by KVP Ramachandra Rao in July 2016. Similarly, MP YV Subba Reddy in Lok Sabha had put forth a proposal for SCS to AP for 15 years. YS Jagan on August 2 called for shutdown of AP owing to a lukewarm response from Arun Jaitely on July 29 2016 and TDP-BJP murky alliance. In August 2016, YS Jagan addressed the youth at the Yuva Bheri orgainsed in Nellore seeking support for fight to achieve special status. He also participated in the Yuva Bheri orgaisned in Eluru.

YS jagan again called for a statewide bandh on September 10 after Arun Jaitely in September declared that Center cannot grant special status. Demanding special status, YS Jagan didn’t attend the AP assembly monsoon session from September 8 to 10, 2016. Despite all odds, YS Jagan continued to fight for special status and spoke to Andhra NRIs though video conference on the issue.

On October 25, participating at the Kunrool Yuva Bheri, YS Jagan emphasized that their MPs are ready to resign from their posts if needed to get special status. Drawing inspiration from the Jallikattu episode, YS Jagan announced a candle light rally at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam on January 26 2017. However, he was stopped from participating, as YSRCP chief was held up at the Vizag airport and sent back.

YS Jagan accused Chadrababu of mortgaging the interests of the state for special package. The YSR Congress party president is a lone fighter to achieve special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The way his walkathon Praja Sankalpa Yatra has gained steam is proof enough that lakhs of Telugu people are by his side, sharing the same sentiment for the betterment of the state.