Centre failed to keep its word on SCS, says PRTU

Hundreds of teachers representing the Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union (PRTU) on Sunday took part in the day-long hunger strike demanding Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.

Braving the blazing sun and humid weather, the teachers, including women, descended on the city from all the 13 districts.

They were led MLC G. Sreenivasulu Naidu, union State president G. Narayana Rao, and Krishna district president D. Srinu.

Addressing the media, Mr. Naidu said the BJP cheated the people by not granting SCS. It also failed to fulfil the promises made on the Floor of the House. He said Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who was an MP at the time of bifurcation of the State, had made a forceful appeal seeking SCS for 10 years instead of five years proposed in the Reorganisation Act. “The BJP has gone back on its word and pushed the State into a financial crisis. Now it is blaming the 14th Finance Commission for not granting SCS,” he said. He warned BJP of total rout in the 2019 elections.

Advice to TDP, YSRCP

“The people of the State had wiped out the Congress on 2014. The BJP stares at a similar fate in 2019,” he warned. Mr. Naidu lauded the TDP and the YSRCP for moving the no-confidence motion against the Centre, but asked them to fight together to protect the self-respect of the people of the State. Mr. Naidu said the PRTU would soon join hands with other teachers’ unions, and chalk out a protest plan involving the entire teaching fraternity.