Bandh Succesful, Will Continue Fight For SCS: YS Jagan

Samarlakota (East Godavari): Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly and YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said people voluntarily participated in the bandh today and made it a success. He said people's aspirations for Special Category Status (SCS) to AP were high and that was reason they participated in the bandh in large numbers.

Talking to media after the success of the statewide bandh, the YSRCP Chief said AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu tried to portray the bandh as a failure. Despite all efforts to suppress the bandh, it was a success. He thanked each and everyone who participated in the bandh.

YS Jagan said just to dilute the bandh, Chandrababu tried to operate APSRTC buses. He said it was unfortunate that the TDP leaders instead of participating int the bandh tried to put obstacles. On the demise of Kaki Durga Rao, who had come to protest for SCS, he asked—Who is responsible for his death? Due to the high-handed behaviour of the police, Durga Rao suffered heart-attack and died," he said. The people's leader said he was deeply pained by the incident.

The Leader of Opposition presented photos of police atrocities across the state. After all the efforts by the police to create fear psychosis in the minds of the people, the bandh was a success. This proved the sentiment of the people in the state, he observed.

YS Jagan called upon the people of AP to join the fight for SCS and added that it wouldn't stop here but would be further intensified. Chandrababu should at least now come forward and join the protest. The YSRCP Chief said that some people did not participate in the bandh for their political gains. He once again stressed that YSRCP would join hands with whoever fights for SCS to AP. "SCS was above personal and political gains."

Replying to allegations that YSRCP had never spoken against BJP and Central government with regard to SCS, YS Jagan pointed out that in September 2016 after the state had been given Special Package, Chandrababu held a press conference thanking the Central government. He said he held a press meet the very next day and one could check the record as to what he had spoken. YS Jagan said he had blatantly attacked the Centre in that press conference. In fact YSRCP opposed the motion of thanks in AP assembly.

YS Jagan told the press to check what he had spoken during his various protests in the last four years and what Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Venkaiah Naidu had spoken at Yuvabheri. He termed BJP leaders as well as Chandrababu as chameleons. He said YSRCP was committed to achieve SCS and that was the reason their party MPs had resigned 15 months prior to the elections. He observed that it was the YSRCP which first gave a notice for the no-confidence motion in the Parliament.

The YSRCP Chief questioned how the AP Chief Minister could nominate a BJP minister’s wife as member of TTD board when he had walked out of the NDA alliance. Union minister Nirmala Seetharaman's husband was with AP government, but still Chandrababu claims that he had walked out of NDA. If only the TDP MPs had also quit along with YSRCP MPs and sat on an indefinite hunger strike, the entire country's attention would be one AP and the Centre would have yielded to our demands, he said.

YS Jagan said while being an ally of BJP, Chandrababu had an understanding with Congress as well. "It was the misfortune for the people of the state that today we have to even hear the speeches of Pawan Kalyan also. After being an ally with TDP and BJP for four years and not having commented on anything, just before the elections Pawan realises that he has done a mistake and breaks their friendship." He said that Pawan comes once in six months with a tweet or an interview. The YSRCP Chief said that over the last four years, Jana Sena chief was working towards saving Chandrababu. It was unfortunate that such a person was speaking about politics, he added.

Also Read: YSRCP Activist Durga Rao Gave Up Life For SCS: YS Jagan