The five-day relay hunger strike organised by the Congress came to a close on Friday even as the party vowed to continue its struggle till the Centre conceded to the demand for special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
A broad-based meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee is likely to be convened in Visakhapatnam early next month when the party will chalk out its future course of action to mount pressure on the Centre to grant special category status and fulfil other promises. Senior Congress leaders on Friday criticised Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu for reneging on the Centre’s promise to grant special category status and accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of remaining a mute spectator to the injustice meted out to the State.
They took strong exception to Mr. Venkaiah Naidu’s reported remarks that the State did not qualify for the special category status, and that only hilly States were eligible for it.
Staff Reporter from Ongole writes: Former Minister Devineni Rajasekhar on Friday held Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu responsible for the “injustice” meted out to AP.
Speaking on the concluding day of the protest, Mr. Rajasekhar took strong objection to the Union Minister’s reported contention that the State did not qualify for the special category state status.
“It is unfortunate that such a statement came from a BJP leader who had pressed for special status for the State for 10 years at the time of the passage of the AP State Reorganisation Bill in Parliament,” he added.
Special Correspondent from Rajahmundry adds: Speaking at the conclusion of the relay hunger strike at Kotagummam on Friday, DCC president Kandula Durgesh said the party would not give up efforts to obtain special category status for AP.
PCC to meet in Vizag in April to mount pressure on Centre to grant special category status to AP
