CPM protest for Special Category Status turns violent

Kurnool: The protest staged by CPM, demanding Special Category Status (SCS) to the AP and the implementation of bifurcation promises turned violent when the protesters tried to barge into the Collectorate here on Wednesday. The party leaders and activists took out a padayatra in the district seeking SCS to the State. 

The four-day padayatra has culminated at the Collectorate with hundreds of party activists and leaders assembling at one place. With the huge gathering, the party has staged a protest for some time. Addressing the gathering, party leader K Prabhakar Reddy said that both Chandrababu Naidu and Narendra Modi have betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh. 

The Chief Minister, during his visit to Kurnool on the occasion of first Independence Day celebrations after bifurcation, has made several promises to Kurnool, but none of them have been implemented, he alleged and added that Naidu has been focusing on the developmental works in the coastal region while ignoring the Rayalaseema.

The party leaders said that the people of Rayalaseema are waiting to teach a befitting lesson to BJP and TDP.  As the addressing of the leaders concluded, the activists abruptly ran and tried to barge into the Collector’s office. Some of the activists also climbed up the gates but their attempt was foiled by the police.

As the situation was going out of control, the cops had resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the activists. Some of the leaders were arrested and few leaders were allowed to meet the District Collector and submit a memorandum.

Responding to their demands, the District Collector assured them that he would take up the issue to the notice of the state government. CPM state leader T Shadrak, All India Women Democratic Association state leader P Nirmalamma and SFI leaders were present.