Prepare report seeking special category status for Andhra: Jagan to officials

In pursuit of his promise to get the special category status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh, newly elected chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday directed concerned officials to prepare reports on Andhra Pradesh’s financial condition to place before the 15th finance commission, with stress on the need for according SCS to the state at a review meeting.

During the meeting, Reddy told the officials that they should explain the present financial situation of AP and why its needs SCS to come over the financial crisis, said a late night communication from his office on Saturday. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) supremo had promised to get SCS for Andhra Pradesh ever since the state was bifurcated (from Telangana) in 2014.

The issue had taken centre stage last year, after the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government was unhappy with the funding and special package that AP was given, in lieu of the SCS. It even led to the TDP breaking its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre.

In the meeting on Saturday, Reddy advised the officials to come out with innovative ideas to improve the financial situation condition without burdening the common man, and suggested levying ‘green tax’ and getting loans with low interest rate. He expressed surprise over diverting of funds that were yielded through loans by various corporations with counter guarantee from state government, added the release.

Coming to liquor policy, Reddy made it clear that belt (illegal liquor) shops have to be curbed and removed to protect the interests of poor. The YSRCP chief has promised prohibition in different phases to implement it. If necessary, the state government itself should consider running liquor shops on its own, he stated during the meeting, and asked the officials to study the best practices being observed in other states for the same.

Cautioning officials to maintain financial discipline, Reddy also said that said stringent action should be taken against on those running belt shops and that the concerned dealer who is found to be indulging in it should have his license cancelled.

The YSRCP stormed to power in Andhra Pradesh in the 2019 assembly (and Lok Sabha) elections, by winning a staggering 151 out of the 175 seats, leaving the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP with just 23 seats. It also won 22 of the 25 parliamentary seats.