YSRCP slams TDP, BJP, Congress over collusion to prevent bill on special status in Rajya Sabha 

New Delhi: Contrary to the promise made by the TDP government, the private bill on special status was not tabled in Rajya Sabha on Friday. No one knows when will the private bill come up again in the House. The monsoon session will be held till August 12. After the Rajya Sabha session, which witnessed mockery of dirty politics on Friday, YSRCP MP Vijaya Sai Reddy criticized the three political parties--- TDP, BJP and Congress-- for playing with the lives of Andhra people.

Reddy said: “We have been fighting for special status to AP for the past two years. Three parties colluded to prevent the bill on special status in Rajya Sabha. BJP members created rupture in the house to prevent voting. BJP is no short of UPA government. It’s not good on BJP part to act like a dictator. YSRCP will continue to support farmers until justice is done to farmers.”

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is at the center of criticism over inability to get special status to the state from all parties and public as well. Being the close ally to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Naidu has failed to get the special status to the State.

Congress MP Undavalli Arunkumar also criticized the NDA government for not making special status law. “Centre is the first accused in the today’s episode in the Rajya Sabha. Today what happened is worst than bifurcation of united AP,” said Undavalli.

AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh has slammed the NDA government for the injustice being done to AP. “All the political parties extended support to the private bill, but the NDA government turned it down. If Chandrababu Naidu turns against the GST Bill, then NDA government will definitely approve the bill on private status to AP,” said Digvijay Singh.

The YSR Congress Party has demanded that Naidu should firmly convey the need for special status along with irrigation and drought conditions to the Prime Minister. YSRCP and Congress parties criticize Naidu for lacking clarity and his inability to pressurize the Centre. Congress MP KVP Ramachandra Rao introduced a private Bill on Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. Congress party had issued a whip asking all its 60 members in the 243-member Upper House to be present and vote for the bill.

However, Congress party has colluded with BJP and TDP in preventing the bill, said Ambati Rambabu, spokesperson at YSRCP. On the other hand, Chandrababu Naidu has criticised the Congress party for its attempts to gain political mileage out of the issue. While extending total support to anyone for the cause and benefit of AP, YSRCP said there was no need for separate legislation on SCS as the promise had been made on the floor of Parliament.

The Congress leadership is understood to have issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members asking them to be present in the House on Friday when the Bill was expected to come up for debate in the Upper House. Naidu is learnt to have criticised the Congress leadership for not incorporating the SCS issue in the A.P. Reorganisation Bill.

Two years after the passage of the Bill, the Congress is shedding crocodile tears on the SCS,” Chandrababu Naidu is learnt to have said. However, Naidu did not indicate whether the party would support the Bill or remain neutral. The TDP MPs are engaged in brainstorming sessions on the issue in the nation’s capital.

“Two years after the passage of the Bill, the Congress is shedding crocodile tears on the SCS,” he is learnt to have said. Chandrababu Naidu, however, did not indicate whether the party would support the Bill or remain neutral. The party MPs were engaged in brainstorming sessions on the issue in the nation’s capital.

TDP would take a decision that would suit the larger interests of the State, Naidu reportedly said. YSR Congress senior leader Botsa Satyanarayana said there was no need for a special Bill as the previous UPA government and the BJP, then in Opposition, unanimously agreed on it and the matter was subsequently approved by the Cabinet.