The demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh is all set to snowball into yet another major agitation in Seemandhra region.
The agitation is slowly building up ever since the Centre has categorically declared that there is no question of granting any special status to AP.
With Union Finance Minister Arun Jeitly announcing that the Centre would come out with a special financial package for AP to tide over its financial burden in the wake of bifurcation and also to meet the expenditure involved in building the new State’s capital, Secretariat, High Court, Raj Bhavan etc, it is amply clear that the Central government would accord only a special financial package and not a special status to AP state.
As a result, resentment is growing among the people of the state over the stoic silence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in this matter and his failure to present a strong case before the BJP-led NDA Government of which his TDP is also an ally besides two party MPs in the Modi cabinet.
To mount pressure on the Centre, there was a demand for the two TDP ministers --- Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y S Chowdhary – to resign as a protest against the delay in according the special status to AP.
The agitation against Naidu’s inaction has begun with actor Shivaji launching a struggle all over the State by organizing dharnas and rallies in this regard.
As if this was not enough, film star and Jana Sena party founder president Pawan Kalyan lambasted Chandhrababu Naidu for not taking any initiative in brining pressure on the Centre. He also ridiculed the MPs from the state for failing to exert pressure on the government.
The YSR Congress which failed to wrest power in the State is trying to exploit the situation to nail the TDP and its leadership in the matter and thus prepare itself for the next elections.
The Congress, which has been completely wiped out from the State, is trying to resurrect itself by taking advantage of the issue and has already began lambasting Chandrababu Naidu for failing in this regard.
As if not to lag behind, the CPI has thrown its hat in the ring. Apart from calling on the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and submitting a memorandum for immediate accordance of special status to AP, the party has also given a bandh call on August 11 in AP to press for its demand.
Thus the issue of special status is slowly and steadily turning into a mass movement with the people mounting pressure on TDP to make its two ministers resign from the Modi cabinet and also to sever ties with the BJP till the demand is conceded.
