YS Jagan to Youth: Lead Politics With Integrity and Moral Strength
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS YS Jagan Mohan Reddy delivered a call to action to students and youth on Wednesday, urging them to “grow like sacred Tulasi plants in politics” and rise as the moral backbone of public life. Addressing the party’s state student wing at the YSRCP central office, YS Jagan said the future of Andhra Pradesh rests firmly in the hands of the younger generation, a generation he believes has the power to transform the political landscape and reclaim the state’s direction from what he called “dangerous, anti-student decisions” of the current government.
“Youth are the drivers of this era”
YS Jagan declared this is the age of social media and global competition, where youth are not mere observers but the decisive force shaping governance.
“This is your era. You are the ones driving this age. Whatever you decide, that is the government that will come. If you say sit, they must sit. If you say stand, they must stand. That is the power of youngsters,” he asserted.
Positioning young people as the conscience-keepers and future architects of the state, YS Jagan urged them to embody values, character, and leadership that inspire pride.
“A true leader is one about whom supporters raise their collar with pride. Sow good seeds today,they will become trees tomorrow and shape future generations.”
“Education destroyed, future sacrificed”
YS Jagan contrasted the transformational reforms implemented during YSRCP rule with what he described as a systematic destruction of education under the present regime.
He reminded that his government:
- Modernized government schools to corporate standards
- Introduced English-medium education and the IB model
- Partnered with edX to bring global learning opportunities
- Distributed tabs, dictionaries, and ensured subject-teacher system
- Raised college quality with NAAC accreditation
- Spent Rs. 16,800 crore on full fee reimbursement and hostel support
- Raised GER from 27.86% to 37% within five years
“We built an education ecosystem where a poor student could dream of global opportunities. Today, they have snatched that dream away.”
He criticised that this government is freezing reforms, halting English-medium schooling, discontinuing tabs, lowering food quality in mid-day meals, and leaving Rs. 6,400 crore in student scholarship arrears.
“They stopped fee reimbursement, ignored hostel support, and pushed students to drop out. GER is falling again. This is an assault on the future of our children.”
Privatizing medical colleges is a crime
YS Jagan denounced the government’s decision to privatize medical colleges, calling it a betrayal of youth and poor families.
He reminded that from 1923 to 2019, Andhra had only 12 government medical colleges , none built by Chandrababu Naidu, while YSRCP began work on 17 new government colleges, completing seven and admitting students in five.
“Just Rs. 1,000 crore a year for five years, that’s all the state needed to complete these colleges. Instead of investing, they are selling them. They are selling the dreams of poor students.”
He said privatization would:
- Push medical education out of reach for poor and middle-class families
- Increase private hospital exploitation
- Kill equitable access to healthcare
- Reverse the biggest public health and education expansion in state history
Mass youth movement
YS Jagan called upon students to spearhead a statewide resistance, announcing:
- One-crore signature movement against privatization
- Constituency-level student rallies on November 12
- December agitation for pending fee reimbursement
“This is not just a political fight , it is a fight for your future. Join hands, organize, lead. We will stand with you till this government bends.”
Protect your future, protect Andhra
YS Jagan reminded students that they are not mere spectators but stakeholders in the destiny of Andhra Pradesh.
“This is your fight. Your future. Your state. You must not allow the destruction of education and public institutions. Rise, organize, and protect Andhra Pradesh.”
