The discontent that is brewing among people over the Central government’s failure to meet its commitments to Andhra Pradesh, including the Special Category Status (SCS), was on full show at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s 12-hour fast, ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha,’ at the IGMC Stadium here on Friday.
Mr. Naidu was to celebrate his 68th birthday but chose to stage the Gandhian protest with the hope that the BJP-led NDA government will realise its folly and grant SCS and concede the other legitimate demands of the State.
The hunger strike was to begin at 7 a.m. but Mr. Naidu was behind the schedule by 10 minutes and as he entered the venue and garlanded the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule and N.T. Rama Rao, the crowd raised slogans in his support and against the Centre for allegedly deceiving the State in the name of the special financial assistance. Ministers, MPs and MLAs too went on a day’s fast in their respective constituencies to express solidarity.
Mr. Naidu staged a silent protest and his supporters vied with one another to take selfies and shake hands with him, but only a few got the opportunity.
Heads of Hindu, Christian, Islam, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions blessed the CM. A large number of women and youth expressed solidarity with the CM and touched his feet, asserting that he alone was capable of getting justice done to the beleaguered State.
Holding placards and banners and shouting slogans of “Pratyeka Hoda Andhrula Hakku,” various sections of people, including students, teachers, employees and workers, went in groups to greet Mr. Naidu. A participant, V. Sarojini from Gannavaram, gave away her gold bangles to the CM.
Pat for Naidu
Pavuluri Siva Ramakrishna, a 96-year-old freedom fighter who initiated Mr. Naidu into the hunger strike, praised him for making relentless efforts to secure the SCS in a peaceful manner. Veteran journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao said he saw in Mr. Naidu the fighting qualities of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu. Some supporters of the CM’s campaign for SCS wore T-shirts which featured the Prime Minister’s unkept promises titled as #ModiCheatedAP.
‘Fight unitedly’
Chalasani Srinivas, leader of the Pratyeka Hoda, Vibhajana Hameela Sadhana Samiti, asked Mr. Naidu to stage a protest in New Delhi, and exhorted Telugu people around the world to fight for SCS. He also told the CM that he should take all parties on board in the ongoing struggle. Film producer Tammareddy Bharadwaj said the issues at stake were not the concern of the CM alone. In fact, he was fighting for the future of the people and he deserved to be extended full support.
Actor and Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, Telangana TDP leader E. Peddi Reddy and chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy were among a host of prominent personalities who threw their weight behind the CM. The deeksha concluded at 7 p.m. as per schedule.
