JSP, Left to step up stir against Centre

Vijayawada: The leaders of Left parties and Jana Sena chief formally accepted to intensify their agitations against the Centre for according Special Category Status (SCS) to the state.

The left party leaders, CPM state secretary P Madhu and CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna met Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan here on Thursday for one-hour and accepted to work with mutual understanding for the forthcoming elections also.

The meeting has assumed significance as they met one-day after the attack by Pawan Kalyan against the Telugu Desam party and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

But Pawan Kalyan did not reveal details of the meeting. According to sources, they discussed on Pawan Kalyan’s meeting and its response from public. They have also discussed on the prevailing political atmosphere in the state.

The left leaders have explained their continuous protests along with Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi for the past some time. They also said the BJP and TDP have hoodwinked the people on the SCS.

The people were extending full support to the protests whenever they give call, they explained. The leaders planned to hold a round-table meeting on SCS on March 19 and decided to invite all parties for the meeting to build strength on the issue.

CPI secretary K Ramakrishna said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was blackmailing the leaders of regional parties and added the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was being misused by the Centre to file cases against the leaders of regional parties.

He asked the government to call for all-party meeting. CPM state secretary P Madhu said they have formally agreed to work for the implementation of AP Reorganisation Act and the SCS.

However, the left leaders said they did not discuss the election alliance in their meeting with Pawan Kalyan. They have discussed on the state issues including pending assurances with the Centre, Madhu said. CPM leader Gafoor, former MLCs P J Chandrasekhar and Wilson were present.