CPI to observe ‘Black Day’ on April 5 for Spl Status

-    CPM and Jana Sena will join in Black Day, as part which lights will be switched off from 6 pm to 7 pm
-    State secretary Ramakrishna announces that protests will be staged at district and mandal headquarters today and tomorrow

Tirupati: CPI will intensify the agitation to achieve Special Category Status (SCS) for the state and is going to organise protests at all district and mandal headquarters on Monday and Tuesday to be followed by observation of ‘Black Day’ on April 5.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said that the state party would meet on April 4 on SCS to decide the future course of action to build up a strong movement to force the Centre accord SCS to the state.

CPM and Jana Sena will also join the ‘black day’ to be observed on April 5 by switching of the lights voluntarily in the evening from 6 pm to 7 pm on that day, he said urging the people to participate in the novel protest to express solidarity to the fight for SCS.

The CPI leader urged the ruling TDP and opposition YSRCP to stop fighting with each other and unite to take the fight to Delhi to force the Centre agree for SCS. Stating that the TDP and YSRCP sparring weakens the cause, he wanted them to unite if they are really serious about protecting the interests of state’s people.

It was unfortunate that BJP had failed to open its eyes even after the success of the recent ‘state Bandh’ called by all political parties and Prime Minister is yet to come out with a statement on SCS even after the continuous protest by MPs from the state in Parliament and outside, he added.

Sharply reacting to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking people’s contribution for Amaravati construction, the CPI leader said it was shameful and urged Naidu to first stop splurging public funds. The state’s debt burden which was Rs 97,000 crore at the time of bifurcation, has increased to Rs 2.50 lakh crore now but Naidu did not stop using special flights for his travel, he pointed. 

Criticising the government for its move to set up seven medical colleges in the state capital, he said concentrating development in one place would adversely affect other areas. Ramakrishna said that his party would play a proactive role to bring an alternate political set up for which the people were longing for in the state and added that the party would discuss it in the state committee meeting to be held  from April 6 to 9 in Kadapa.

CPI state leader P Haranadha Reddy, district secretary Rama Naidu and others were present.