Andhra Pradesh feels cheated on special tag issue

Guntur: Political parties, organisations and people are angry over BJP-led Union government for the rejection of special status to AP. The CPI launched awareness meetings and has called for a state bandh on August 11 seeking special status to AP. Similarly other organisations also are conducting rallies and meetings demanding special status as promised during the state bifurcation time.

Union minister Rao Inderjeet Singh confirmed that the Union government will not give special status to any state and this shattered the hopes of the public about speedy development in the residuary AP.

Narasaraopeta MP of Telugu Desam, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao has recalled that Union minister for urban development M. Venkaiah Naidu, several times, assured the people of the state about providing special status to AP during the time of bifurcation and during elections. He said that BJP is making silly excuses of not taking the consent of the former union cabinet for the special status and added that the present cabinet can afford to give special status to AP. He added that BJP’s image would be tarnished and it will affect BJP in AP in the coming days if the special status promise is rejected.

Meanwhile, minister for agriculture P. Pulla Rao, in a defensive act, said that they cannot fight with Central government at this stage and will continue its efforts to get huge funds as a substitute for special status.

YSR Congress district president, M. Rajasekhar alleged that Telugu Desam and BJP have deceived the AP people. Mr Rajasekhar questioned how the TD ministers are continuing in the Union cabinet with gross severe injustice to AP. He demanded that TD ministers quit the posts and fight for special status with all political parties and organisations.

CPI district secretary, J. Ajay Kumar recalled that the former Congress government offered five years of special status but Mr Venkaiah Naidu offered ten years on behalf of BJP and then backed out. He demanded resignation of Mr. Venkaiah Naidu.

CPM district secretary, P. Rama Rao announced launching of public protests seeking special status. He claimed that Indian Constitution allows giving special status so BJP cannot violate its promise and demanded immediate announcement of special status.

Various organisations are going to conduct cycle rally in Guntur city seeking special status to AP on Saturday and Sunday.

The activists and leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) here on Saturday conducted a protest rally demanding special status to AP. The protesters, led by CPI district secretary J. Ajay Kumar, objected the announcement of BJP-led Union government rejecting special status to AP.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ajay Kumar said that a huge public meeting would be conducted on August 5 at Guntur on the arrival of Pratyeaka Hodha Sadhana Samithi tour seeking special status. The rally was conducted from Mallaiah Lingaiah Bhavan to Bus-stand and protesters aired slogans against BJP and Telugu Desam governments for their failure to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh.