Political parties’ commitment to special status questioned

 Tirupati: Demanding the BJP-led NDA government to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh, leaders of SFI, AISF, DYFI and AIDWA organised a human chain protest with students from Annamayya Circle to MR Palli Circle here on Wednesday.

As part of agitation, students have raised slogans against the state and central governments for their failure to get SCS to the state. DYFI district secretary S Jayachandra came down heavily on Modi government for denying special status to the truncated state and delaying sanctioning the revenue deficit funds to AP.

The DYFI leader slammed the TDP and YSRCP for playing vote bank politics without achieving special status to the state. Meanwhile, the cops tried to send away students due to traffic jam. This led heated argument between student union leaders and cops.

MLC Y Srinivasulu Reddy and CPI district secretary Rama Naidu also spoke. SFI district secretary Madav Krishna, leaders of AIDWA, AISF, DIYF and students from various colleges were present.

Human chain formed 
Chittoor: More than 3,000 students belonging to various educational institutions under the banner of the All India Students Federation (AISF) formed a human chain at Gandhi Statue here on Wednesday, demanding the BJP-led NDA government to honour the promise of granting Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. By holding placards, students raised slogans in support of SCS.

Addressing the students, the CPI State Committee member Nagarajan slammed the Modi government for denying special status tag to Andhra Pradesh. He gave a call to all the political parties to put up a united fight for achieving SCS to the state. District SCS Sadhana Samithi Convenor Jayaraj has flayed the political parties for lacking commitment to exert pressure on the Central government.

He stated the BJP would suffer a humiliating defeat in the state in 2019 elections if it fails to concede SCS to the state. AISF district president Sasikumar felt that it was need of the hour for the students to quit classrooms and join the agitation to achieve SCS.

District Teachers Union president Ganta Mohan, Jana Sena district convenor Nagaraj, AISF leaders Santhosh Kumar, Prasad and others spoke. Vehicular flow was disrupted for one hour with the formation of human chain.