Amaravati, Aug 202: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday accused the TDP-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of deliberately denying the YSRCP the Leader of Opposition (LoP) status in an attempt to silence its voice in the Assembly.
Addressing a meeting of YSRCP legislators ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature, which begins on August 17, Jagan asked party MLCs to remain vigilant and raise issues affecting the public in the Legislative Council. He said he would continue to highlight people's concerns through the media and expose what he described as the government's failures.
The YSRCP has been boycotting the Assembly for nearly two years, demanding recognition as the principal Opposition party and grant of LoP status. Jagan alleged that the coalition government was unwilling to accord the status because it wanted to prevent the Opposition from effectively questioning its decisions.
He said the YSRCP had sufficient strength in the Legislative Council and should therefore use the forum to raise issues concerning different sections of society.
“As we have strength in the Council, we should be the voice of the people and highlight the issues we have taken up,” Jagan told the legislators, referring to several protests organised by the party over alleged irregularities in the District Selection Committee (DSC) recruitment process.
He claimed that the party had conducted 10 different protests over 74 days and presented evidence to support its allegations. Jagan also accused the government of irregularities in recruitment, leakage and outsourcing-related matters and alleged discrepancies involving sports quota appointments.
The YSRCP chief said the party had also demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged involvement of Education Minister Nara Lokesh, son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The allegations have been rejected by the ruling establishment.
Jagan directed party legislators to raise the issue of pending fee reimbursement and Vasathi Deevena payments, claiming that students were facing difficulties because bills for 13 quarters remained unpaid. He put the pending amounts at more than ₹9,100 crore for fee reimbursement and ₹3,300 crore under Vasathi Deevena.
He alleged that the government had released only ₹2,900 crore and asked YSRCP MLCs to press for a detailed discussion in the House.
Farmers' problems were another major issue highlighted by Jagan. He alleged that farmers were not receiving adequate minimum support prices for their crops and claimed that insufficient irrigation water and the suspension of free crop insurance were adding to their difficulties.
Jagan also criticised the government's approach towards public-private partnership projects, arguing that viability gap funding and other concessions offered to private players could ultimately increase the financial burden on the government and people.
He asked legislators to question any move towards privatisation of public services and closely examine the financial implications of such decisions.
The YSRCP president further instructed party members to raise the repeal of the Disha Bill and what he described as politically motivated cases against members of backward communities. He alleged that cases against BC leaders Chintada Ravi and Mustafa were fabricated and intended to target them for questioning the government.
Jagan also cited the ongoing junior doctors' strike and alleged dissatisfaction among government employees, women, youth and unemployed people as issues that should receive attention during the Assembly session.
He directed YSRCP legislators to enter the House fully prepared, carrying relevant data and documentation to substantiate their arguments.
Jagan said the party's legislators should use every available opportunity in the Legislative Council to highlight public concerns and question the coalition government's performance, while he would continue raising issues through public platforms and the media.
