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The long-pending demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh has taken a political twist with Jana Sena Party Chief and actor Pawan Kalyan accusing the Modi-led NDA government of diversion tactics.
While addressing a public meeting at Tirupati on Saturday, the popular actor – seen as a supporter of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in general, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies in particular, declared that he would take the fight for special status to streets if it was not granted instantly.
“We will fight till the end,” he said, while asking Members of Parliaments from the State to block parliamentary proceedings.
He was critical of AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s ‘soft’ stand on the issue and demanded that TDP should exit from the NDA government to show its commitment for the demand.
Action planThe Jana Sena leader outlined a three-pronged action plan, which will be kicked off with a public meeting on September 9 at Kakinada. Then, he proposed to take up a tour of districts to rally public support and exert pressure on the MPs representing all parties. “Finally, I will take my protests to to the streets,” Kalyan said.
Without special status, the graduates in the State will fail to find jobs and there will be no use of government programmes like Make in India and Start Up India, he claimed, adding that while Telangana was being sanctioned funds ‘liberally’, Andhra Pradesh was being neglected. Jana Sena’s position on the special status issue assumes significance as the actor is seen having an impact on State politics, with his good officers at the Centre. In a way, he chose to put gossip that his party might truck with the BJP in the 2019 polls, by ruling out election alliances and said he had not set up the Jana Sena “to carry the flag of anybody”.
Citing statements of Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu against special status to AP, Kalyan said Naidu, who hails from the State, should support the demand and ensure its speedy sanction.
He blamed the Congress for the unscientific bifurcation and also the BJP for extending unconditional support to it.
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