All parties stage dharna for SCS

Rajamahendravaram: Leaders of all parties staged a dharna at Dr BR Ambedkar statue here on Thursday, demanding Special Category Status to the state. The Congress, YSRCP, CPI, CPM, and Jana Sena Party (JSP) participated in the protest.

The city Congress president, NV Srinivas said that AICC president Rahul Gandhi assured to accord SCS to the state, if the party voted to power in next general elections. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set everything for SCS but the BJP government set aside it and trying to blame the Congress. The people were observing BJP’s activity and are planning to teach a lesson to the party in the ensuing elections, he added.

The YSRCP city coordinator, Routhu Suryaprakasa Rao said the party was fighting for SCS for four years and even moved a no-confidence motion against the BJP government but in vain. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu who opposed the SCS for all these four years had now took U-turn and trying to get credit in the SCS agitation. However, people were not in a position to believe him, he opined.

The CPM district secretary, T Arun and the CPI leader, NR Rao said the two parties fight against Central government until it gives SCS to the state. They underlined the need to work together to mount pressure on Central government in this regard.
The agitators raised slogans against Central government demanding the SCS.