It is time for the MPs from Andhra Pradesh, irrespective of party affiliations, to resign their membership in deference to the wishes of people seeking Special Category Status (SCS) to the State, said former Andhra Pradesh High Court Judge P. Lakshmana Reddy here on Friday.
Addressing a media conference organised by Jana Chaitanya Vedika (JCV), a civil society organisation, Justice Lakshmana Reddy deplored Centre’s apathy to the assurances given under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
There was no response even after the AP Assembly adopted an unanimous resolution for the SCS and sent it to the Centre.
Former AP Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao emphasised the need for decentralised development in AP. The backward districts of Rayalaseema, north Andhra besides Prakasam and Nellore districts should be developed on priority in the spirit of Sree Bagh agreement, he said.
With the State capital being constructed in coastal Andhra, the High Court should be set up in Rayalaseema, he said. There were already nine States in the country like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala, where State capital and High Court were located in different cities. The High Court Benches could be set up at Amaravati and Visakhapatnam, Mr. Rao said.
JCV State president V. Lakshmana Reddy and IJU secretary general D. Amar backed the SCS and demanded decentralised development. JCV would participate and support all ongoing movements by students, youth and others for SCS. It would take part in dharnas near the Collectorartes on March 1 and in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 5.
Demanding Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to make his stand clear on SCS, they said there was no need for Constitutional amendment or special Act to announce the SCS to a State that was bifurcated against the wishes of people, they said. They pointed out that earlier, 11 States were given SCS based on recommendation of the Planning Commission and approval of the Union Cabinet.
