Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi seeks support for State bandh on Feb 1

Tirupati: Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi (PHSS) sought the support of all political parties, social, mass organisations and others for the success of Andhra Pradesh bandh called by PHSS on February 1.

Speaking to the media here on Sunday, PHSS chairman Chalasani Srinivas said that it is the last chance for the people of Andhra Pradesh to show their strength and unity, before the general elections, to press the Centre to agree for the Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh.

Every section should join in the bandh to open the eyes of the BJP government at the Centre, he said. He criticised the BJP government at the Centre and also the TDP government in the State for their decision to present budget for the year 2019-2020 as the tenure of these governments is coming to an end in April itself and added that in all aspects it is unjustified.

He said the sustained struggle of PHSS saw even the political parties which in the beginning failed to support SCS, forced to toe the line fearing public wrath and their survival. However, he expressed concern over the attempts being made by some vested interests to weaken the movement for SCS in the State. 

Reiterating that the only way for the State to progress is SCS, he cautioned the people of the State to be wary of the forces trying to create differences to thwart the attempts to achieve SCS.

Brushing aside BJP leaders’ claim including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who contended that the Centre is liberal in providing financial support to the State, he maintained that the BJP government still not eschewed the discrimination it has been showing since it came to power after 2014 election and said the allocation made to various sectors like railway, roads, irrigation etc. is far less to the State compared to BJP-ruled State of Maharashtra and even Telangana. PHSS district president Jayaraj was also present.