CPM flays TDP’s double standards on SCS

Bhimavaram: The CPM activists organised a protest here on Wednesday, against the Centre’s attitude in according Special Category status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. The activists slept on the road under the scorching sun, in protest against the Centre and State Governments attitude towards the State. They stated that the Centre had left the Andhra Pradesh in the lurch.

Addressing the agitators, the CPM district secretariat member, JNV Gopalan said it was unjust on the part of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who announced that Special Category Status to AP was not possible. He pointed out that out of 29 states, 11 states were enjoying the Special Status. Those states would get the facility over another 10 years. Even the Centre claiming that it had allotted special package which contains thousands of crores, nothing was done in practice. 

He pointed out that the economists had clarified that Andhra Pradesh should get Rs 75,000 crore from the Centre.  He criticised that the TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu who demanded Special Status before elections had surrendered to the BJP after elections and announced the special package was sufficient to the state. He lamented that the Chandrababu's double standards were clear as he was demanding the special status now. 

He demanded that the TDP join the agitation against the Centre for the Special Status. The CPM district leaders, BV Varma, B Anjaneyulu, K Kranti Babu, M Vaikuntha Rao, Ch Venkateswara Rao and others participated.