Jagan says officials to prepare report seeking special category status for AP

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.

Amid the gathering, Reddy told the authorities that they ought to clarify the present money related circumstance of AP and why its needs SCS to come over the budgetary emergency, said a late night correspondence from his office on Saturday. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) supremo had guaranteed to get SCS for Andhra Pradesh as far back as the state was bifurcated (from Telangana) in 2014. 

The issue had become the overwhelming focus a year ago, after the past Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government was discontent with the financing and exceptional bundle that AP was given, in lieu of the SCS. It even prompted the TDP breaking its coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- drove Center. 

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.

Alerted authorities to keep up budgetary order, Reddy likewise said that said stringent move ought to be made against on those running belt shops and that the concerned seller who is observed to enjoy it ought to have his permit dropped. 

The YSRCP raged to control in Andhra Pradesh in the 2019 get together (and Lok Sabha) decisions, by winning a stunning 151 out of the 175 seats, leaving the N. Chandrababu Naidu-drove TDP with only 23 seats. It additionally won 22 of the 25 parliamentary seats.