The Modi government is deliberately delaying the announcement of the new railway zone, granting of Special Category Status (SCS) to AP and special package to North Andhra and Rayalaseema, to suit its personal agenda, opined the speakers at a protest organised by the Left parties.
‘Maha dharna’ was staged opposite the Gandhi statue near GVMC here on Wednesday to protest against non-implementation of the promises made in the AP Re-organisation Act.
Dig at Naidu
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu took at dig at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for changing his stand on SCS, which was an indication of his personal agenda of safeguarding the interests of his own party and family rather than the interests of Andhra Pradesh.
Reiterating the commitment of the Left to secure the railway zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam through struggles on the lines of the ‘Visakha Ukku, Andhrula Hakku’ struggle. On SCS, Mr. Raghavulu said that granting 50% subsidy, I-T and wealth tax exemptions would automatically draw investors to A.P.
Instead of insisting on SCS, the Chandrababu Naidu government was hosting partnership summits and bringing women from abroad to serve wine and dance to attract entrepreneurs.
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau member warned that concentration of development in the capital region, ignoring North Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, was resulting in a feeling of alienation among the people and would lead to demands for further division of the State.
To intensify stir
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said the Left parties would intensify their protests till the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act were fulfilled. He accused Mr. Chandrababu Naidu and Mr. Venkaiah Naidu of sacrificing the interests of A.P. for their personal agenda.
CPI-ML New Democracy leader Y. Kondayya alleged that the corporates, which funded the election campaign of Mr. Modi and Mr. Chandrababu Naidu were being given the red carpet, while the interests of the poor were being ignored in the State.
CPI(M) State secretariat member Ch. Narasinga Rao and CPI State assistant secretary J.V. Satyanarayana decried the arrest of contract workers in the Electricity Department who were fighting for their rights.
CPI city secretary M. Pydiraju, CPI(M) city secretary B. Ganga Rao, CPI(M) leader Botta Eswaramma and CPI leader A. Vimala were among those who were present.
