Chandrababu Naidu begins fast on SCS

The Andhra Pradesh CM took the podium after being blessed by religious heads and people were lined up in the front to express their solidarity.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister during his hunger strike to protest against the Centre’s non-cooperation, at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium in Vijayawada on Friday.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday began his 12-hour Dharma Porata Deeksha against the Central government's refusal to give Special Category Status (SCS) and fullfil the assurances given in Rajya Sabha, at IGMC stadium here shortly after 7 a.m. on Friday.

Mr. Naidu took the podium after being blessed by religious heads and people were lined up in the front to express their solidarity.

Holding placards aloft, the participants demanded that the Central government uld honour it's commitments.

Veteran journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao and 96-year-old freedom fighter Pavuluri Siva Ramakrishna delivered the inaugural speeches.

They exhorted the people to stand by the Chief Minister in this ‘time of crisis’ to mount pressure on the Central government.

Tight security was provided near the venue.