Vijayawada,
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu is today sitting on a day-long hunger strike in Vijayawada against the Narendra Modi-led Central Government over the demand of special category status (SCS) for the state, on his 68th birthday. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is calling the protest ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’ or ‘Fight for Justice’.
On Monday, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Naidu, finalized the strategy for the hunger strike.
Vijayawada: CM Chandrababu Naidu on a one-day hunger strike against 'Centre's non-cooperation with the state' #AndhraPradesh #SpecialStatus pic.twitter.com/xMKIP4y8bP
— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2018
Most of the ministers are sitting on hunger strike besides CM Naidu only, while 13 ministers of Naidu’s cabinet will organize simultaneous hunger strikes in as many districts.
The strike was announced by Naidu on April 14.
During an event to mark Ambedkar Jayanti in Guntur district, the Chief Minister had unveiled the designs of ‘Ambedkar Smriti Van’ to be built in Amravati spreading over 20 acres with a cost of Rs 100 crores.
While addressing the gathering, he announced that he would sit on fast on his birthday i.e., April 20 as part of his fight over the Central government demanding to fulfill assurances made in Rajya Sabha including Special Category Status and provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act.
The TDP Chief said, “we might launch a legal fight as well to secure the state’s rights.”
The Chief Minister had also made it clear that “I will not compromise on securing interests of the state. A huge public meeting will be organized in Tirupati on April 30 with the theme ‘Let us save the state from betrayal and conspiracies’.”
He had appealed to the people of Andhra Pradesh to give the TDP all 25 MP seats to play a crucial role at the Centre. The Chief Minister added that he is fighting against the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Naidu had asked for everyone to cooperate on his one day fasting on April 20.
The Chief Minister said that a huge public meeting will be organized in Tirupati on April 30 with the theme “Let us save the state from betrayal and conspiracies”.
He reminded that four years back, Narendra Modi as a Prime Ministerial candidate promised Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh at the abode of Lord Balaji in Tirupati.
“It is very unjust to not implement that promise. We want to remind the nation of his promises which is why a huge public meeting will be organized on April 30 in Tirupati,” he said.
Naidu, whose party quit the ruling NDA alliance last month alleging failure in fulfilling the promises made in the State Reorganisation Act, has intensified his attacks on the BJP-led government at the center.
After the two TDP Union ministers had quit the government on March 8, the party had moved a no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha against the Modi government. The motion was, however, not taken during the Budget session of the Parliament due to disruptions.
