YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy here on Wednesday lambasted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleging that the latter has become thick-skinned, shameless and was not able to talk properly. The YSRCP president reacted thus to a question by a woman during the “Yuva Bheri” program here on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering of students at Ambedkar Auditorium in Kakinada as part of the Yuva Bheri, Jagan praised the students for holding the meet despite obstacles from the TDP government. Stating that political interference has risen in the Universities, Jaganmohan Reddy pointed out that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s son Lokesh Naidu’s birthday was celebrated in the Sri Venkateshwara University in which several officials of the University participated.
The YSRCP leader further alleged that Dalit research scholar Rohit Vemula of University of Hyderabad had committed suicide due to the intervention and pressure exerted by Union ministers. Jagan called upon the youth to fight to achieve the special status to Andhra Pradesh. “Chandrababu could have got special status had he really fought for it. But, his plan to extricate himself from the infamous “Cash for Vote” scam was making him to sacrifice the interests of the State. Stating that his compulsions were making him to keep silent on the special status issue, Jagan exhorted the people, especially the students, to take the Chief Minister to task and force him to do it.
“Jobs can be given only if AP gets special status. But, Chandrababu has mortgaged state interests to serve his personal interests. If there is special State status, each district in Andhra Pradesh will become another Hyderabad. Special status States would get 90 per cent grants and only 10 percent as loans. For other States, 70 percent of the funds is in the form of loans and 30 per cent is given as grants”, Jagan added. Special status was promised by then Prime Minister as Andhra Pradesh has lost Hyderabad, which has 90 per cent of software jobs. At least 70 per cent of the total jobs are in Hyderabad.
When Congress said it will give special status for five years, the BJP went a step ahead and said the status would be given for 10 years. The TDP and the BJP made it a poll issue and sought votes”, he pointed out.
The YSRCP chief also assured to fight for the rights of the Arogya Mitra employees, who were removed from service. He called upon them to fight with confidence and said his party would stand by them. Though the Arogya Mitra employees have won several national and international awards, the Chandrababu Naidu government had mercilessly removed them from jobs. He also said the plight of Anganwadi women remains unheard. The government says there are 1,42,888 vacant jobs. But, there is no recruitment drive even after 22 months of the TDP assuming power, he fumed. (NSS)