Jagan trying to whip up emotions on SCS: Lokesh

Telugu Desam general secretary Nara Lokesh has accused YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy of trying to whip up emotions among youth by raking up the issue of Special Category Status time and again.

“Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy is trying to whip up an emotional frenzy and force us out of the NDA alliance so that he can sneak into it. But the TDP is not coming out of the NDA alliance. We will remain in the government and fight for the State,” Mr. Lokesh told the media here on Wednesday.

“Can they show me how many jobs have been created in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and other States where SCS has been given? We have roped in many MNCs like Cadbury, Hero Motors, and Asian Paints only through the hard work of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu,” Mr. Lokesh said.

Responding to a query on political interference in the administration, Mr. Lokesh asserted that the party and the government were one and the same.

All-party meet sought

Staff Reporter in Ongole writes: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should take all parties into confidence and lead a united struggle to achieve SCS, CPI national secretary K. Narayana said at a press conference here. It was not correct to treat the issue as one between the TDP and the BJP, ignoring other parties, he added. Urging Mr. Naidu to take advantage of the support extended by 11 parties to the just demand, he said that the situation called for convening an all-party meeting and evolving a joint strategy to exert pressure on the Centre.