Special Status to AP: On B-day, Chandrababu Naidu on day-long fast

TIL Desk/National/Vijayawada/ Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu begins observing a day-long fast on Friday to demand Special Category Status (SCS) to the state. It is notable that Friday is also Naidu’s birthday. Naidu will sit on hunger strike at Indira Gandhi Stadium from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm to pressurise the Centre to grant the SCS to Andhra Pradesh. The hunger strike will be called ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’ or ‘Fight for Justice’.

The strategy for the hunger strike was finalised by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Naidu, on Monday.Thirteen ministers of Naidu’s cabinet will also organise simultaneous hunger strikes in the districts for which they are in-charge ministers. Remaining ministers will take part in the hunger strike along with the Chief Minister.

The Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre have been at the loggerheads ever since the announcement of 2018-19 Union Budget. The TDP alleged that the Centre ignored the demand of ‘Special Category Status’ to Andhra Pradesh in the budget, while the latter brushed aside the charges.