YS Jagan vows to pursue cordial ties with Centre, Modi even in future

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday asserted that Andhra Pradesh's cordial relations with the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would continue the same way even in future, far from any political influences. In his speech at the Prime Minister's event at the Andhra University Grounds here, he said that a wave of people flocking to the venue resembled another sea competing with the Bay of Bengal in the vicinity.

He referred to the famous songs of Srikakulam revolutionary balladeer Vangapandu (yem pillado yeldam vastava) and Sri Sri's "vastunnay, vastunnay Jagannatha radha chakralu', to describe the massive turn out for the event.

He thanked the Prime Minister for kickstarting the key projects for the benefit of the state. He gave a detailed account of the slew of development and welfare initiatives taken by the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh in the last three years.

YS Jagan said that every penny was properly utilised for the overall welfare of the people and urged the Prime Minister to extend all possible assistance for further prosperity of the state. He expressed anguish that the state was still licking its wounds that were inflicted in the form of bifurcation. He said that every rupee that the Centre provides to the State would be substantially utilised. He appealed to the Prime Minister to support the state in every aspect with a big heart.

He also referred to the cordial relations that the state has with the Centre and the Prime Minister without any political calculations and asserted that this would continue in this manner even in future. "Our association with the Centre and the Prime Minister is beyond politics. The interests of the State are of paramount importance for us. We have no different agenda nor do we have in future," YS Jagan stated amid thunderous applause from the crowds.

He appealed to the Prime Minister to favourably resolve all the pending issues pertaining to the state including special category status and Railway Zone for Visakhapatnam. He also urged Modi to resolve the contentious proposal to privatise Visakha Steel Plant.