Anantapur: YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy feels that the Chief Minister would have no need to travel overseas to invite investors, if Andhra Pradesh gets special category status. “Mr Naidu does n’t need to travel to Singapore, China, Japan, Russia and America. Businessmen from overseas and other states will come to AP. Crores of rupees will be invested in industry and this will create lakhs of jobs for the youth,” he said.
Mr Reddy launched ‘Yuvabheri’ programme at Nellore on Thursday. Expressing concerns over the plight of unemployed youths in the state, the YSRC president said that jobs can't be created without getting special category status.
He lashed out at Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu for staying compromised on the issue.
Calling on youths and students to fight on the matter, the leader of the opposition made it clear that his party would lead the agitation till special status is a reality.
Highlighting the importance of special status, Mr Jagan said that new jobs can be generated only if AP gets special status. AP lost a city like Hyderabad after bifurcation. 98 per cent of IT jobs are in Hyderabad and youths are facing tough situation as no vacancies were filled by the state government during the past two-and-a-half years.
Elaborating on the two major benefits from special status, he said, “The Centre gives 90 per cent grant if we get special status. We have to repay only 10 per cent. If not, we get only 30 per cent grant and we have to repay 70 per cent. Second major benefit is industrial incentive like 100 per cent exemption of I-T, excise duty for industrial units, 50 per cent subsidy in power tariff.”
The YSRC chief further elaborated that 11 states have especial status in the country and they get all the incentives that enable them to attract business investments. Continuing his tirade at Chief Minister Naidu, the YSRC leader pointed out that the CM is responsible for not getting special status for AP. But he was caught red-handed luring MLAs and fears CBI cases and is unable to demand special status for the state from Prime Minister Modi.
Moreover, Naidu is part of the NDA government. Answering a question from a student whether it's possible to get special status, Mr Reddy recalled India fought for over century to get freedom from British rulers. “We should feel lucky that Mr Naidu wasn't there during the time of freedom movement.” Mr Reddy stated that the agitation will continue until the state gets special status.
