Jagan asks party leaders to expose govt.’s failures

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked party legislators to raise issues of public interest during the ensuing Legislative Assembly session, while highlighting the failures of the government.

Addressing the YSRCP Legislative Party members here on Wednesday, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the government was unwilling to accord Leader of Opposition status to the YSRCP, the principal opposition party, with an intention to gag its voice.

The former Chief Minister said he would raise the issues through the media to present the other side of the story to the people. He asked the legislators to use the party’s strength in the Legislative Council to act as the voice of the people.

On the DSC issue, he said the party had staged 10 forms of protests over the past 74 days and placed “evidence” to substantiate its allegations. He said the party had also exposed the alleged leakage and outsourcing scandals and irregularities in the sports quota, demanded a CBI inquiry, and questioned the alleged involvement of HRD Minister Nara Lokesh.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the legislators to raise the issues of fee reimbursement and Vasathi Deevena, alleging that students were being severely affected by pending bills. He said dues had accumulated for 13 quarters to more than ₹9,100 crore under fee reimbursement and ₹3,300 crore under Vasathi Deevena, while the government had released only ₹2,900 crore. He asked the legislators to pursue the issue in the House and insist on a discussion.

On farmers’ issues, he asked the party legislators to raise their voice over lack of MSP for crops, inadequate availability of water and suspension of free crop insurance, which, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said, had pushed farmers into distress.

He also criticised the provision of viability gap funding (VGF) for public-private partnership projects and other concessions to private players, saying they would ultimately burden the people. The government’s alleged plans to privatise public services should be strongly questioned, he said.

The YSRCP chief asked the legislators to raise the repeal of the Disha Bill and cases filed against BCs. He alleged that cases were being filed unjustly and vindictively against those questioning the government, and described the cases against leaders such as Chintada Ravi and Mustafa as fabricated.

The legislators should also highlight the junior doctors’ strike, dissatisfaction among employees and the grievances of women, youth, the unemployed and other sections of society, he said.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the legislators to attend the the Assembly sessions fully prepared with relevant data and effectively expose the government’s failures.