Special Category Status: APNGOs leader calls for united stir by parties
Tirupati: Speakers at a meeting on ‘Modi Pai Teluguvani Thirugubatu’ organised by Andhra Pradesh Abhivridhi Porata Smiti (APAPS) lamented that the disunity among the political parties coming in the way of achieving Special Category Status (SCS) for the development of the state.
They were highly critical of the political parties being unable to come together setting aside their agendas to intensify the stir to force the Centre agree to accord SCS to the state.
APNGO association president P Ashok Babu said that the association will not hesitate to plunge into the struggle if the political parties did not shed isolated approach of fighting on their own for SCS, to turn the stir as mass movement, involving all sections including political parties, employees associations, social organisations and students outfits.
“We are anxiously watching the developments. We will join in the struggle for SCS if it is warranted,’’ he said while expressing his displeasure on the political parties being unable to carry a joint struggle in the interests of the people of Andhra Pradesh to force the Centre agree for SCS.
In this connection, the NGO association leader stressed on the need for mobilising the support of Telugus living in other states and called on the Telugus in the poll-bound Karnataka to vote against BJP to teach a lesson to the party for betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh.
“Congress party stabbed in the back by dividing the state and the BJP failed to save the state by healing the wound,’’ he said, coming down heavily on BJP-led Central government for acting against federal spirit.
Sri Krishna Teja Educational Institutions chairman Chadalavada Sucharitha warned against the agitation affecting students future while stressing on leading a time-bound movement. She sought the people to keep off the political parties to pave way for the youth take the lead. “Let us all unite to build a strong mass movement to bend the Centre within three months,’’ she added.
APAPS president Raja Reddy said that APAPS will conduct the meeting ‘Modipai Teluguvani Thirugubatu’ state-wide with support of non-political organisations and association to intensify the stir for SCS.
Tirupati was chosen to launch the state-wide campaign to remind the people of the state as well as the Centre that it was here Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election meeting in 2014 assured to accord SCS to AP if he was voted to power but failed to keep the promise made at a holy place.