During the peak of the movement for separate Telangana state, a large number of youth had committed suicide to highlight the cause.
These suicides were one of the factors that forced the Centre then to take a decision in favour of separate state.
There were suicides in Seemandhra region during the Samaikyandhra, too. Now, with the special category status for Andhra Pradesh turning out to be an emotional issue, the frustrated youth in Andhra Pradesh are resorting to extreme steps to achieve the demand.
On Saturday, a 29-year old man N Sudhakar committed suicide by hanging himself at Madanapalle in Chittoor district.
A worker in a handloom unit, Sudhakar said in his suicide note that nobody was responsible for his death and indicated that he was committing suicide for special category status to AP.
His family members told the police that Sudhakar was actively participating in the agitations for special category status to AP.
“He even spoke at the meeting of handloom weavers recently, where he raised his voice for special status,” they said.
Needless to say, Sudhakar’s death has become a political issue, as a large number of activists from different parties including the Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress party gathered at his residence to gain an upper hand over one another.
TDP president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, speaking at Dharma Porata Deeksha at Ongole, attributed the suicide of Sudhakar to the emotional disturbance caused due to betrayal by the Centre. He asked the youth not to commit such acts, but continue their fight against the Centre.
Naidu announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the state government and another Rs 5 lakh from the TDP, to the bereaved family.
“We will stand by his family and support them all through,” he said.
YSR Congress party president and leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy also expressed shock over the suicide by Sudhakar.
He condoled the bereaved family members and appealed the people not to resort to such extreme step but join the fight for SCS to achieve the goal.
