Congress calls for National Highway blockade on March 2

Nellore: DCC President Panabaka Krishnaiah said that they would block the National Highway-16 on March 2 to mount pressure on the BJP-led NDA government to achieve Special Category Status (SCS) to the state.

District Congress Committee had organised 'Andhrula Atma Gourava Deeksha' at the VR College Centre here on Tuesday. They raised slogans against the central and state governments for not implementing poll promises.

Addressing at the meeting, the DCC chief said that the Congress would closely work with any political party which comes forward to fight for the SCS to the state. He also said that YSRCP, CPI, CPM, Jana Sena and other political parties, and student organisations are voluntarily participating in the agitation for SCS.

“Congress had also prepared a plan of action to be implemented in the Parliament with the support of other political parties under the leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi to achieve the SCS to AP,” he stated. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who had earlier satisfied with the assurance of special package has now taken U-turn with the response of the public demanding the special status, he added.

He explained that the Congress is the only party which has been fighting for the status for the last 4 years. DCC chief demanded the central government to implement provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act. He slammed the Modi government for neglecting the construction of Dugarajapatnam Port, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, metro rail projects in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, and steel factory for Kadapa.

The TD government had failed to raise the issues of AP in the 2018-19 budget, said Krishnaiah. Majority jobless youth in the state are facing difficulties due to lack of avenues, he lamented.

He made an appeal to the Congress leaders, activists, youth and people to block the National Highway on March 2 to mount more pressure on the Centre and also asked to make success ‘Chalo Parliament’ on March 6, 7 and 8. Senior Congress leaders Chevuri Deva Kumar Reddy, C V Sesha Reddy, U Venkat Rao, G Sivachary, P Seeth rambabu and others were present.